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ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


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HISTORY 


OF   THE 


I  UST      I 


3ST  OI  S  , 


CONTAINING 


Sketches  of  the  First  Ministers,  Churches,  Presbyteries  and 
Synods;    also  a  History  of  Missions,  Pub- 
lication and  Education. 


BY    J.    B.    LOGAN,    D.D., 

Author  of  "Alice  McDonald,"  "Carrie  Holmes,"  "Tract  on  Baptism,"  &c. 


ALTON,  ILL.: 
Pen-in  &  Smith,  Book  and  Job  Printers  and  Newspaper  Publishers,  State  Street  opposite  Third. 


1878. 


TO    ALL    MINISTERS 

OF    THE 

CUMBERLAND    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    IN    ILLINOIS, 

Who  have  labored  and  sacrificed  fur 

their  love  of  her, 
Tins  VOLUME  is  FRATERNALLY   DEDICATED. 


DEATH  knocks  with  certain  footsteps  alike  at  the  palace  of  the  rich  and 
the  hut  of  the  poor;  at  the  counting-room  of  the  merchant  and  the  study  of 
the  man  of  God.  His  knock  is  imperative;  and  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the 
merchant  and  the  man  of  God,  must  as  certainly  answer.  On  the  14th  of 
September,  1878,  the  Editor  of  this  History  threw  down  the  gauntlet  and 
gave  up  life's  struggle.  The  course  for  him  then  ended;  the  race  for  him  was 
run.  Sad  as  every  visitation  of  the  dark  messenger  is,  it  is  infinitely  more  so 
when  a  useful  man  is  stricken  down  in  his  usefulness. 

On  account  of  the  unexpected  death  of  the  Editor,  the  foregoing  volume  is 
imperfect  in  some  respects.  Just  what  his  intention  was  in  reference  to  this 
work  is  not  fully  known ;  but  it  has  been  carried  out  so  far  as  ascertained. 
He  evidently  intended  to  prepare  a  full  statistical  table  for  the  entire  State, 
showing  the  numerical  and  financial  strength  of  the  denomination.  Other 
matters  of  great  interest  he  may  have  also  intended  to  include  in  the  volume. 
But  he  has  gone,  and  there  is  no  means  of  discovering  the  intended  scope  of 
tlu!  work.  What  is  published  is  just  as  he  left  it,  with  no  material  altera- 
tions."' The  work  is  sent  out  with  the  hope  that  it  may  strengthen  the  bonds 
of  the  Church  of  God,  re-animate  and  stimulate  it,  and  glorify  Him  whose 
humble  messenger  the  Editor  was.  May  the  blessings  of  Heaven  go  with  it! 

PUBLISHERS. 


Preface,             .            .            .            ...            .            .            .  5 

Introduction,          ........  8 

CHAPTER  I. 

First  Preachers,  First  Congregation,  First  Camp-Meeting,  etc.,         .  13 

CHAPTER  n. 

First  Presbytery — When,  Where,  and  by  Whom  Organized;  Its  Subse- 
quent History  for  Several  Years,         .  .  .  .  .26 

CHAPTER  III. 
Sangamon  Presbytery,  ......  45 

CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Third  Presbytery— Vandalia,  .....         52 

CHAPTER  V. 
Organization  of  the  First  Synod,         .....  67 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Sangamon  Synod,  .......         72 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Central  Illinois  Synod,  ......  83 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Sketches  of  Some  of  the  Oldest  Churches  in  the  State,  .  .        86 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Letters  from  Various  Brethren  in   Reference  to  the  Early   Times  of  the 
Church  in  Illinois,  ......  96 

CHAPTER  X. 
Missions  and  Publication,  .  .   '  .  .  .109 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Educational  Efforts,     .  .  .  .  .  .  .  121 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Mothers  in  Israel — Old  Mother  Barnes,  Mrs.  Ann  Foster,  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Ann  Wilson,  .......       132 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Biographical — Revs.  John  Barber,  Sen.,  D.  W.  McLin,  J.  M.  Berry,  A.  W. 
Lansden,  Joel  Knight  Samuel  McAdow,  James  Ashmore  and  William 
Finley,        .  ....  .140 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Biographical,  continued — Revs.  Gilbert  Dodds,  David  Foster,  W.  M. 
Hamilton,  J.  R.  Lowrance,  Cyrus  Haynes,  John  Barter,  Jr.,  Isaac 
Hill,  John  M.  Cameron,  Thomas  Campbell,  Nicholas  Carper,  and 
James  McDowell,  ...  .  .  181 


THE  origin  and  progress  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  has  been 
not  unlike  a  poor  man  who  settles  in  the  dense  forest,  a  vast  wilderness  all 
around  him.  He  first  moves  in  on  "government  land,''  fells  the  trees,  clears 
the  ground  of  brush,  builds  his  "log  cabin,"  and  gets  in  his  little  patch  of 
corn.  But  all  is  on  government  soil — not  a  foot  of  the  land  is  his.  But. 
through  the  forbearance  of  government  he  remains,  and  adds  a  little  to  his 
farm  and  flocks  yearly.  By  slow  and  patient  labor  he  gathers  together 
finally  enough  money  to  "enter1'  his  home  at  "a  dollar  and  a  quarter  per 
acre."  And  it  is  a  great  day  with  him  when  he  comes  home  to  his  family 
with  a  certificate  from  the  land  office  for  "a  quarter  section''  of  land.  But 
watch  him  now  a  few  years  and  you  see  the  "little  patch"  of  corn  gives  way 
to  the  large  and  broad  farm;  the  "log  cabin''  has  a  large  two-story  frame  or 
brick  in  front,  with  plenty  of  "out  houses."  and  his  flocks  and  herds  fill  large 
pastures.  Prosperity  smiles  everywhere,  and  he  begins  to  be  regarded  as  one 
among  the  foremost  farmers  of  his  county.  To  look  back  forty  years  ago, 
it  would  seem  impossible  for  him  to  have  ever  gained  this  high  position. 

So  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Never  in  the  history  of 
Christian  churches  did  a  denomination  begin  house-keeping  with  less  facil- 
ities for  the  work,  and  darker  prospects  of  success,  than  our  fathers.  We  arc 
aware  that  we  have  among  us  some  who  seem  to  see  even  yet  nothing  in  the 
work  and  progress  of  our  Church  encouraging.  We  are  not  of  the  number. 
Kvcry  time  we  make  a  review,  we  leave  on0  with  a  deeper  impression  and 
higher  estimation  of  the  marvelous  work  and  sacrifices  of  our  early  fathers 
and  people.  That  they  succeeded  at  all,  that  they  did  not  within  the  first  ten 
years  yield  to  surrounding  embarrassments  and  give  up  all  hope  of  perpetu- 
ating their  organization,  is  to  be  accounted  for  simply  and  only  that  the  hand 
of  (iod  was  in  the  movement.  It  u as  never  intended  to  be  given  up.  And  it' 
Cumberland  Presbyterian-  -liouUl  bptray  their  trust,  and  God  in  his  ang;T 


VI  1'KKFACJ;. 

should  forsake  u-.  n-st  a-surcd  the  principles  which  originated  and  have  thus 
far  perpetuated  this  Church,  will  he  crystalizcd  in  some  form  and  he  pcr- 
petuatcd  hy  some  organ  i/.ation  to  the  cud  of  time.  At  the  birth  of  this 
Church  the  Protestant  world  was  divided  and  arrayed  into  two  antagonistic 
parties — Calvini.sts  and  Arminians.  Each  party  was  strong  in  numbers  and 
wealth,  and  hoary  with  age.  Each  party  agreed  that  if  their  side  was  not 
right  that  the  other  side  must  be,  and  therefore  demanded  that  all  men  should 
receive  one  or  the  other  theory  as  necessarily  the  truth.  Cumberland  Presby- 
terians were  the  first  people  on  earth  whose  history  is  on  record  who  under- 
took to  plant  their  feet  on  "middle  ground,"  and  slum  the  extremes  of  both 
these  systems.  Of  course  they  were  ridiculed  and  laughed  at,  and  treated 
like  the  builders  of  Jerusalem  under  Xehemiah.  "What  do  these  feeble 
Jews?"  ''Even  that  which  they  build  if  a  fox  go  up  it  shall  even  break  down 
their  stone  wall." — Neh.  iv.  2,  3.  But  without  prestige,  or  institutions  of 
learning,  books,  papers,  wealth,  numbers,  or  fame  to  lean  upon — like  the 
woman  with  the  ointment  they  have  done  what  they  could — and  to-day  we 
find  both  these  great  parties  modifying  gradually  their  preaching,  if  not  their 
systems  of  divinity — until  AVC  find  no  scarcity  of  endorsers  among  all  the  Cal- 
vinistic  and  Arminian  bodies  of  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterians, while  sixty-eight  years  have  worked  a  wonderful  change  in  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  itself.  This  period  has  given  us  strong 
colleges,  and,  therefore,  men  in  the  front  ranks  of  educated  society.  We  are 
also  beginning  to  have  a  literature  not  to  be  despised.  From  working  at  h'rst 
in  private  houses  and  country  school  houses,  we  have  gradually  but  surely 
found  a  permanent  footing  in  some  three  or  four  hundred  villages,  towns  and 
cities  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

Beginning  with  church  property  of  less  than  ten  thousand  dollars — all  told 
— we  have,  according  to  the  last  statistics.  *l.<>s:!.7:50.  with  twenty-one  l'n>- 
byteries  not  reporting — the  property  of  which  will  swell  these  figures  to  tens 
of  thousands  more.  Nor  does  this  estimate  include  our  college  property, 
which,  if  added,  would  make  the  figures  at  least  $2.000,000.  This  is  small 
compared  with  larger,  older  and  much  richer  bodies;  but  from  almost  nothing 
sixty-eight  years  ago.  it  is  not  to  be  despised.  Our  membership  is  put  down 
at  100.H12.  with  ten  Proliyterie-  reported  at  the  figures  of  former  years,  and 
other*  detective.  One  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  communicants  i-, 
pot  an  extravagant  estimate.  And  the  amount  contributed  to  (  lin.^t v  ( .m-; 


PREFACE.  Vll 

in  the  past  year  is  put  down  at  $;i01,589,  with  thirty  Presbyteries  not  re- 
porting this  item.  The  denomination  has  458  probationers  for  the  ministry, 
1,283  ministers,  2,251  congregations.  Well  may  we  say,  ''What  lias  God 
wrought ?"  With  these  facts  before  us,  and  the  additional  truth  admitted 
by  nearly  all,  that  on  those  points  of  doctrine  and  practice  which,  at  first, 
made  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  distinctive,  the  theological 
changes  of  the  last  decade  have  invariably  been  a  convergence  toward  these 
points,  surely  we  have  sufficient  to  stimulate  to  increased  efforts  and  to  sat- 
isfy us  with  our  present  and  prospective  position  among  the  denominations  of 
the  great  Protestant  Church.  Yet  nothing  would  be  more  fatal  than  to  rest 
here  on  our  supposed  laurels.  We  should  only  be  inspired  to  greater  faith, 
humility,  zeal  and  consecration  to  the  great  work  of  the  salvation  of  the  race. 
While  we  "strengthen  the  stakes,''  we  should  "lerfgthen  the  cords''  also. 
There  is  no  success — there  can  be  none  without  constant,  persistent  effort,  and 
unreserved  trust  in  God  and  his  truth.  While  Paul  "thanked  God  and  took 
courage,"  it  was  not  to  sit  down  supinely,  but  his  great  soul  was  nerved  for 
more  vigorous  labor, — so  may  the  mercies  of  God  to  us  only  inspire  us  with 
stronger  confidence  in  the  truth,  and  greater  zeal  in  its  promulgation. 


I  AM  not  insensible  to  the  magnitude  and  delicacy  of  the 
task  I  have  undertaken.  It  is  one,  however,  which  I  have 
considered  of  great  importance  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and 
to  Cumberland  Presbyterians  in  particular.  A  true  history 
of  the  Church  is  but  a  record  of  God's  providences  and 
dealings  with  men,  in  the  kingdom  of  His  grace.  Not  an  un- 
important portion  of  these  special  dealings  and  providences 
has  God  communicated  to  the  world  through  the  medium  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  I  know  of  no  branch 
of  the  Church,  for  the  time  it  has  existed,  which  has  been 
attended  with  greater  marks  of  approbation  from  the  great 
Head  and  King  of  Zion,  than  has  been  vouchsafed  to  us  as  a 
people.  Wonderful  seasons  of  refreshing  and  salvation, 
scarcely  excelled  by  the  day  of  Pentecost,  attended  the  early 
ministrations  of  our  fathers,  and  with  some  modifications, 
have  continued  with  their  sons  in  the  ministry  to  the  present 
time.  At  a  very  early  day  after  the  organization  of  the  de- 
nomination in  Dixon  county,  Tennessee,  February  4,  1810, 
our  ministers  visited  Illinois  and  planted  the  germ  of  the 
present  Church  on  the  soil  of  the  great  "Prairie  State." 
This  germ,  though  small  and  struggling  for  life  for  many 
years,  has,  with  God's  blessing,  acquired  finally  a  name  and 
position  among  the  permanent  institutions  of  the  country. 
Beginning  here,  as  everywhere,  poor  in  all  things  commonly 
regarded  by  the  world  as  essential  to  success,  yet  a  degree  of 
prosperity  has  been  attained  by  their  labors  not  to  be  despised, 
even  by  those  to  whom  greater  facilities  have  been  available. 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  STATE.  " 

Illinois  was  constituted  a  State  in  1818,  December  3.  At 
that  time  the  whole  population  of  the  State  amounted  to  only 
a  little  over  35,000  persons.  And  yet,  three  years  before  this 
period,  Cumberland  Presbyterians  had  entered  the  territory 
and  carried  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  its  scattered  inhab- 
itants. Among  the  earliest  ministrations  the  people  of  the 
State  had  from  any  source,  were  those  from  ministers  of  this 
then  infant  Church.  And  had  it  not  been  for  the  scarcity  of 
ministers,  the  vast  field  to  be  cultivated,  the  want  of  minis- 
terial support,  and  the  poverty  of  the  Church,  in  all  human 
probability  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  would  have 
been  to-day  one  of  the  leading  denominations  in  this  great 
State,  if  not  entirely  in  the  lead. 

For  long  years  she  struggled  against  fearful  difficulties. 
The  Mother  Church  strongly  opposed  her  efforts.  Thous- 
ands found  Christ  under  her  ministrations  and  united  with 
other  sects,  because  they  saw  no  prospect  of  permanency  to 
our  branch  of  Zion.  Many  meetings  were  held  and  souls 
converted  where  no  opportunity  was  given  to  join  our  Church, 
because  those  holding  the  meetings  did  not  expect  to  be  there 
again  and  they  had  no  prospect  of  a  supply  for  the  new 
members  should  they  be  willing  to  unite  with  them.  The  writer 
has  held  such  meetings  himself,  and  knows  whereof  he  writes. 
Then  the  population  for  twenty  or  thirty  years  was  more  fluctu- 
ating, perhaps,  than  in  any  other  of  the  new  States  or  ter- 
ritories. A  congregation  might  be  organized  this  year,  and 
two-thirds  of  its  members  gone  before  another  year.  The 
country  was  also  regarded  as  uncommonly  sickly,  and  al- 
though its  rich  soil  wras  exceedingly  inviting,  yet  but  few, 
after  shaking  with  ague,  and  burning  with  fever  for  months 
at  a  time,  would  not  be  anxious  to  get  away  where  health 
could  be  enjoyed,  even  if  other  blessings  were  denied. 

Another  drawback  to  our  Church  in  Illinois  arose  from  the 
slavery  question.  The  denomination  originated  in  a  slave 


IO  INTRODUCTION 

State,  and  although  this  question  had  nothing  whatever  to  do 
in  causing  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  to  be  organ- 
ized, nor  was  it  mooted  in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  nor  was 
the  Church  ever,  in  any  proper  sense,  a  ^pro-slavery  church  ; 
yet  many  of  our  early  ministers  and  members  were  neces- 
sarily connected  with  the  institution,  and  Illinois  being  a  free 
State,  after  the  question  came  to  be  agitated,  the  emigration 
from  the  older  parts  of  the  Church  flowed  more  freely  into 
Missouri,  Arkansas  and  Texas  than  into  Illinois,  for  the 
obvious  reason  that  any  one  holding  slaves  could  carry  them 
to  any  of  the  States  named,  but  could  not  bring  them  to  this 
State.  However,  such  has  been  the  success  of  Cumberland 
Presbyterians  in  this  State  that  we  feel  justified  in  placing  on 
permanent  record  such  incidents  of  their  history  as  are  within 
reach,  and  as,  we  trust,  will  honor  the  Master  and  be  useful 
to  future  generations. 

We  regret  exceedingly  that  the  task  has  not  been  under- 
taken by  an  abler  pen,  and  before  so  many  of  the  incidents 
of  our  early  operations  in  the  State  had  passed  from  memory. 
The  most  of  the  older  brethren  have  passed  away  from  earth, 
and  nearly  all  of  the  remainder  are  removed  to  some  other 
countries.  For  these  reasons  our  history,  especially  of  the 
early  days  of  the  Church,  must  necessarily  be  defective. 
Still,  we  feel  like  doing  our  best  with  the  material  within 
reach  ;  and  we  are  the  more  anxious  to  do  this,  when  we  re- 
member that  Illinois  contains  the  ashes  of  one  of  that  immor- 
tal trio  who  composed  the  first  Presbytery,  and  who  had  the 
independence  and  the  resolution  to  stand  out  before  the  world, 
even  though  it  was  at  the  expense  of  ecclesiastical  ostracism, 
and  declare  that  truth  was  better  than  worldly  honor,  that  the 
approval  of  God  was  more  to  be  coveted  than  the  applause  of 
men.  We  refer  to  Rev.  Samuel  McAdow,  whose  remains 
lie  sleeping  in  the  church-yard  at  old  Mount  Gilead,  in  Bond 
count}'.  Scarcely  less  important  is  the  fact  that  Rev.  David 
Foster,  also  connected  with  the  first  Presbytery  held,  lived 


INTRODUCTION.  II 

for  years  in  Illinois,  and  whose  remains  are  resting  in  Madi- 
son county.  He  was  one  of  the  immortal  five  licensed 
preachers,  who  was  present  at  the  organization  of  the  Church 
in  1810,  and  who  had  been  dealt  with  so  summarily  by  the 
commission  of  Kentucky  Synod.  We  never  read  the  history 
of  that  event  without  feeling  proud  of  those  five  young  men 
who  had  the  moral  backbone  to  resist  such  an  unwarrantable 
intrusion  upon  their  rights.  He  spent  several  years  of  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  in  planting  and  watering  the  early 
churches  in  Illinois.  A  more  detailed  notice  of  these  godly 
men  will  be  found  in  the  body  of  the  work.  David  W.  Mc- 
Lin,  who  was  a  candidate  before  the  old  Cumberland  Presby- 
tery, and  who  was  an  attendant  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  new 
Cumberland  Presbytery  in  March,  1810,  was  likewise  a  very 
successful  minister  in  an  early  period  in  this  State.  Many, 
many  will  rise  up  in  the  great  day  and  call  him  blessed. 
His  labors  were  numerous  and  unceasing  until  death  called 
him  home.  He,  too,  lies  sleeping  in  the  soil  of  Illinois. 

Seeing,  then,  we  have  in  the  providence  of  God,  the  watch 
care  over  the  dust  of  three  of  the  fathers  of  the  Church,  who 
spent  the  prime  of  their  days  preaching  Christ  and  establish- 
ing churches  in  this  country,  we  feel  we  would  be  greatly  re- 
creant to  our  trust  not  to  place  in  a  permanent  form  some- 
thing of  the  trials,  labors,  sufferings  and  successes  of  these 
men  and  their  co-workers  in  this  part  of  the  Master's  vine- 
yard. 

In  the  pages  that  follow,  we  are  indebted  for  many  items  of 
history,  and  many  interesting  incidents,  to  a  large  number  of 
brethren  whose  names  it  would  be  too  tedious  to  mention. 
We  may  allude  to  the  help  derived  from  the  "Biographical 
Sketches"  by  Dr.  Beard,  Dr.  Crisman's  "Origin  and  Doc- 
trines," from  the  sketch  of  the  life  of  Rev.  Joel  Knight  in 
Our  Faith,  from  other  sketches  from  him  in  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian ;  but  to  none  are  we  indebted  more  than  to  that 
old  patriarch  in  the  Church,  Rev.  Neill  Johnson,  of  McMinn- 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

ville,  Oregon.  He  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  our  work 
from  the  start,  and  has  rendered  us  invaluable  service.  His 
long  And  active  life  in  the  early  days  of  the  Church  in 
Illinois,  made  him  familiar  with  all  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Church  for  many  of  the  early  years  of  its  history.  We 
shall  let  him  speak  largely  in  his  own  language  in  the  proper 
place. 


FIRST  PREACHERS — FIRST  CONGREGATION FIRST  CAMP-MEET- 
ING, ETC. 

ALL  who  have  ever  attempted  any  thing  in  the  historical 
line,  know  how  difficult  it  is  .to  get  at  precise  dates  for  any 
event  which  has  transpired  half  a  century  ago,  unless  the 
dates  were  penned  at  the  time  the  events  transpired  and 
have  been  preserved.  We  have  found  it  exceedingly  difficult 
to  get  satisfactory  data  about  the  first  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
minister  who  preached  in  the  State — where  and  when  he 
preached.  Also  equally  difficult  to  be  sure  that  we  have 
found  the  organization  of  the  first  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
congregation,  and  at  what  time  and  place.  We  have  deter- 
mined, however,  to  let  the  brethren  whose  recollection  seems 
to  differ  about  the  matter  speak  for  themselves,  believing  that 
this,  upon  the  whole,  will  be  more  satisfactory  to  the  reader. 
It  will  be  seen  from  these  papers  that  it  was  only  four  or  five 
years  at  most  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  first 
Presbytery  (Cumberland)  in  Tennessee,  till  some  of  these 
"  Cumberlands"  visited  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  and  preached 
Christ  and  a  free  and  full  salvation  to  the  people.  It  will  be 
seen  that  Rev.  John  Crawford,  himself  a  pioneer,  gives  the 
honor  of  preaching  the  first  sermon  in  the  Territory  of  Illi- 
nois to  Rev.  John  Barnett,  in  the  year  1815,  near  Golconda ; 
and  that  the  first  Cumberland  Presbyterian  family  that  ever 
crossed  the  Ohio  River  to  reside  in  Illinois  was  the  Tagert 
family,  in  1813.  It  will  be  seen  that  this  goes  back  to  within 
three  years  of  the  constitution  of  the  first  Presbyter}'.  We 
have  little  doubt  but  this  is  a  correct  statement.  We  have  no 
other,  reliable  one  which  antedates  it,  and  therefore  we  shall 


14  FIRST  I'KKACIIJCKS,  KTC. 

assume  this  as  the  beginning  corner  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Illinois.  It  will  also  be  seen  from  the 
statement  of  Mr.  Crawford  that  the  first  seed  was  planted  by 
a  true  son  of  the  Church.  Dr.  Beard,  in  his  biography  of  Mr. 
Barnett,  says  he  was  "  licensed  to  preach  by  Logan  Presby- 
tery, August  31,  1813,  and  ordained  August  n,  1815."  And 
as  Mr.  Crawford  dates  Mr.  Barnett's  first  visit  across  the 
Ohio  in  the  same  year,  it  must  have  been  but  a  short  time 
after  his  ordination.  It  would  seem  from  this  that  the  new- 
kind  of  Presbyterians  was  introduced  into  Illinois  prior  to 
its  entering  Missouri.  The  first  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
minister  who  removed  to,  and  settled  in,  Illinois,  or,  indeed, 
any  where  north  of  the  Ohio  River,  seems  to  have  been  Rev. 
Green  P.  Rice. 

Judge  R.  C.  Ewing,  in  "Historical  Memoirs,"  says  (page 
ii ),  "  The  most  accurate  information  to  which  I  have  access 
is  to  the  effect  that  Rev.  Green  P.  Rice  moved  to  Western 
Illinois  as  early  as  1817.  He  came  to  St.  Louis  and  preached 
in  the  then  small  French  village,  and  was  frequently  in  Mis- 
souri attending  the  Presbyteries  during  the  first  years  of  the 
Church."  When  McGee  Presbytery,  in  Missouri,  was  formed 
it  contained  the  western  part  of  Illinois,  and  all  of  Missouri 
and  Arkansas,  and  at  its  first  meeting  (1820)  the  only  minis- 
ter recorded  or  belonging  to  it  in  Illinois  was  Mr.  Rice,  who 
was  present.  This  meeting  was  held  in  Pike  county,  Mis- 
souri, in  the  spring  of  that  year,  and  was  composed  of  Re\>. 
Daniel  Buie  and  R.  D.  Morrow,  of  Missouri,  Rev.  Green  P. 
Rice,  of  Illinois,  and  Rev.  John  Carnahan,  of  Arkansas. 
Mr.  Rice  resided  in  what  is  now  Bond,  but  was  then  Madison 
count)',  for  several  years,  and  when  Bond  county  was  stricken 
off  and  organized,  its  countv  scat  is  said  to  have  been  named 
for  him  or  in  honor  of  his  first  name,  and  hence  is  called 
Greenville.  Mr.  Rice  came  to  Illinois  from  the  Southern 
States,  and  rinallv  returned  to  the  South,  and  rumor  said,  be- 
came somewhat  dissipated  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life.  When 
or  where  he  died  is  unknown  to  the  writer. 


FIRST  PREACHERS,  ETC.  15 

The  next  minister  who  became  a  resident  of  the  State  was 
Rev.  David  W.  McLin.  In  the  life  of  Rev.  Joel  Knight,  as 
written  by  himself,  we  find  the  following  passage:  "Rev. 
David  W.  McLin  had  settled  during  the  preceding  fall  at 
Seven  Mile  Prairie,  White  county,  Illinois.  There  I  selected 
a  place,  and  in  the  spring  of  1819  I  reached  the  place  with  my 
family." — [Our  Faith,  May,  1876.  This  would  say  that 
Mr.  McLin's  settlement  was  in  the  fall  of  1818.  Mr.  Knight 
also  records  a  "  communion  meeting"  in  August  of  the  same 
year  (1819)— he  does  not  say  a  camp-meeting — "at  Hope- 
well,"  which  was  in  his  neighborhood,  at  which  he  says, 
"  Revs.  William  Barnett,  John  Barnett,  William  Henry, 
Dr.  Johnson,  a  licentiate,  and  Aaron  Shelby  attended."  The 
meeting  lasted  several  days,  and  in  all  probability  was  a  camp- 
meeting,  for  a  several  days'  meeting  was  never  held  in  those 
days  without  a  portion  of  the  people  remaining  in  tents  or 
camps  on  the  ground. 

FIRST  CAMP-MEETING. 

From  a  variety  of  somewhat  conflicting  accounts,  I  am,  how- 
ever, persuaded  that  ihejirst  camp-meeting  ever  held  in  the 
State  was  near  where  Edwardsville  now  stands,  in  Madison 
county.  I  get  this  information  from  W.  P.  B.  Paisley,  of 
Emporia,  Kansas,  whose  father  camped  on  the  ground,  and 
indeed  was  the  means  of  the  meeting  being  held.  I  will  let 
Mr.  Paisley  speak  for  himself.  His  letter  is  dated  Emporia, 
Kansas,  November  28,1876.  He  says:  "  The  first  camp- 
meeting  held  by  Cumberland  Presbyterians  in  Illinois  was 
held  in  Madison  county,  two  miles  south  of  Edwardsville,  at 
the  old  Ebenezer  Camp  Ground,  in  September  of  the  year 
1817.  Ministers,  Revs.  William  Barnett  and  Green  Prior 
Rice.  The  second  camp-meeting  (in  this  part  of  the  State) 
was  held  in  June,  1819,  in  the  timber,  about  two  miles  south- 
west of  the  place  now  called  Elm  Point,  in  Bond  count}'. 
Ministers,  G.  P.  Rice,  Robert  Morrow  and  John  Carnahan. 


l6  FIRST   1'RKACHKRS,   ETC. 

The  third  camp-meeting  was  in  the  full  of  1820,  about  one 
mile  northeast  of  where  the  second  was  held.  Ministers, 
Rice,  Morrow  and  William  Long."  That  Mr.  Paisley  is 
correct  about  thejirst  camp-meeting,  and  perhaps  the  second, 
there  can  be  little  doubt.  We  have  none  else  reported  as 
being  held  so  early.  But  the  third  meeting  is  called  in 
question  by  Mr.  Knight. 

A  very  interesting  and  reliable  paper  has  also  been  fur- 
nished us,  already  alluded  to,  from  a  very  venerable  father 
in  Israel  who  still  lingers  on  the  shores  of  time,  and  whose 
memory  goes  back  with  vividness  to  the  beginning  of  our 
efforts  in  this  Territory,  as  it  then  was.  We  refer  to  Rev. 
John  Crawford,  Ridgeway,  111.,  now  more  than  three  score 
and  ten.  W7e  will  let  him  speak  for  himself: 

"  In  presenting  a  condensed  sketch  of  the  introduction  of 
Cumberland  Presbyterians  into  that  part  of  Southern  Illinois 
now  occupied  by  Illinois  Presbytery,  I  will  first  state  that  I 
was  born  in  South  Carolina,  January  3ist,  1804,  and  that  my 
father,  John  Crawford,  with  Grandfather  Glass  and  other 
families,  all  Presbyterians,  emigrated  to  the  bank  of  the  Ohio 
River,  on  the  Kentucky  shore,  nearly  opposite  the  present 
site  of  Golconda,  in  the  fall  of  1805.  My  father  crossed 
into  Illinois  Territory,  and  located  at  the  mouth  of  Grandpear 
Creek,  in  sight  of  an  Indian  encampment  of  about  thirty,  a 
hunting  party,  in  the  year  1808.  Shortly  after  Francis  Glass, 
an  elder,  crossed  to  Illinois  and  located  two  miles  northwest 
of  present  site  of  Golconda;  his  daughter,  Elizabeth,  having 
married  Robert  Tagert,  near  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  they  were 
both  converted  and  inducted  into  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  under  the  administration  of  Finis  Ewing,  by  whom 
their  first  born,  Nancy  R.,  was  bapti/ed.  Mr.  Tagert,  being  a 
surveyor,  removed  to  Illinois  to  engage  in  that  business,  in  the 
year  1813.  I  think  they  were  the  first  Cumberland  Presby- 
terians that  crossed  the  Ohio  River.  He  died  at  Mr.  Glass' 
the  same  year,  where  the  first  sermon  by  a  Cumberland 


FIRST  PREACHERS,  ETC.  I  7 

Presbyterian  minister,  the  Rev.  John  Barn ett,  "was  preached 
in  that  part  of  Illinois  in  the  year  1815.  As  Mr.  Glass'  sym- 
pathies were  with  the  revival  measures,  his  house  was  a  stand 
for  Cumberland  Presbyterian  preaching  to  his  death,  and  all 
the  younger  members  of  his  family  were  converted  under 
their  efforts. 

"  The  Rev.  Darrow,  an  Old  School  divine,  had  breathed 
the  spirit  of  Craighead  into  my  father's  house  by  warning 
them  of  the  danger  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  About 
this  time,  in  the  year  1816,  Dr.  James  Johnson,  at  the  request 
of  my  oldest  brother,  who  had  been  converted  under  his 
preaching  in  Kentucky,  sent  an  appointment  to  my  father's 
house,  which  was  received  with  some  fearful  apprehensions. 
When  the  sermon  closed  the  Doctor  began  to  sing  praise  to 
God  with  much  feeling,  and  to  extend  a  warm  hand  to  his 
audience,  when  my  parents  fled  and  signaled  their  numerous 
household  to  imitate,  which  was  done.  The  Doctor  didn't 
leave  any  appointment  to  preach  again.  It  is  due  my  parents 
to  state  that,  when  the  power  of  God,  through  the  preaching 
of  these  men,  had  brought  several  of  their  children  to  Christ 
and  to  membership  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
the  spirit  of  Craighead  departed  from  them.  I  heard  Ewing 
at  Golconda,  on  his  way  to  Missouri,  date  not  known. 

k"  The  first  camp-meeting  was  held  at  Sugar  Creek,  Pope 
county,  by  Revs.  John  Barnett,  Aaron  Shelby  and  James 
Johnson,  September,  1821.  At  this  meeting  Nancy  Tagert, 
Joseph  Glass  and  others  were  converted  and  a  church  organ- 
ized— Elders,  Joseph  Wilson,  Israel  Boazarth, Rob- 
inson and  James  Crawford. 

" 1  heard  Thomas  Campbell,  of  Kentucky,  as  he  passed  to 
Sangamon  county,  in  the  summer  of  1822.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  my  serious  impressions.  I  was  in  great  trouble 
until  Sabbath  night  of  a  camp-meeting  at  Sugar  Creek,  same 
fall,  when  Christ  appeared  to  me  as  one  altogether  lovely. 
Ministers  in  attendance,  Aaron  Shelbv,  William  Henry  and 


l8  FIRST  PREACIIFRS,    ETC. 

Hiram  McDaniel.  About  this  time  Revs.  Thomas  Long  and 
Frank  Braley,  in  passing  from  Tennessee  to  Missouri, 
preached  in  Union  county.  A  circuit  was  also  formed,  em- 
bracing all  the  river  counties,  and  supplied  from  Kentucky  by 
Gilbert  Dodds,  Thomas  Boan  and  William  McClusky  ;  after- 
wards from  Illinois  Presbytery  by  Nimrod  G.  Ferguson  and 
James  S.  Alexander.  For  many  years  this  has  been  a  mis- 
sionary field  affording  but  little  support  to  the  laborer.  It  has 
been  partially  cultivated  by  other  faithful  ministers  who  have 
gone  to  their  reward,  of  whom  were  D.  W.  McLin,  Jesse 
Pearce,  W.  M.  Hamilton,  John  Porter,  Richard  Harris  and 
William  Davis.  At  one  time,  when  no  minister  lived  in  said 
boundary,  J.  S.  Alexander  and  I  volunteered  a  joint  effort  of 
fourteen  days  and  nights.  Result:  over  TOO  professions  and 
the  organization  of  two  congregations  that  remain  permanent. 
That  field  is  now  occupied  by  a  class  of  self-sacrificing,  de- 
vout men,  of  whom  are  Revs.  Wells,  Eldridge,  Jordan, 
Simpson,  Mangrum  and  Thompson,  with  several  young  men 
coming  up  to  the  work." 

RECAPITULATION. 

Rev.  Joel  Knight  says  (Sketches  of  Early  History  of  the 
Church  in  Illinois,  C.  P.,  1873,)  "that  Rev.  David  W.  Mc- 
Lin settled  at  Seven  Mile  Prairie,  White  county,  Illinois,  in 
1818."  This  would  make  Mr.  Rice's  settlement  in  Madison 
(now  Bond)  county,  according  to  "  Historical  Memoirs,"  at 
least  one  year  previous.  So  it  seems  we  have  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Crawford  that  the  first  sermon  preached  on  Illinois  soil  by  a 
Cumberland  Presbyterian,  was  preached  as  early  as  1815,  by 
Rev.  John  Barnett  at  the  house  of  Francis  Glass,  near  the 
present  site  of  Golconda — and  the  first  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian family  which  entered  the  Territory  to  reside  was  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tagert,  the  son-in-law  and  daughter  of  Mr.  Glass. 
That  was  in  1813,  just  three  years  after  the  Cumberland 
Presbytery  was  organized.  And  Mr,  Paisley  tells  us  that  the 


FIRST  PREACHERS,   ETC.  I£ 

first  camp-meeting  ever  held  in  the  State  was  at  the  old 
Methodist  camp-ground,  called  Ebenezer,  a  short  distance 
southwest  of  Edwardsville,  county  seat  of  Madison  county, 
.by  Revs.  William  Barnett  and  G.  P.  Rice,  in  September, 
1817.  There  was  no  organization  of  a  congregation  at  this 
meeting. 

FIRST    CONGREGATION. 

The  first  congregation  organized  in  the  State  seems  to  have 
been  Hopewell,  now  Enfield,  in  White  county*  by  Rev.  D. 
W.  McLin,  June  8,  1819.  This  is  taken  from  their  own 
records.  Mr.  Knight,  in  his  "Sketches,"  says  a  camp- 
meeting  was  held  there  (Hopewell)  in  August  of  that  same 
year  "which  was  truly  a  success  to  many,  and  myself,  one  of 
that  number.  I  came  to  the  State  under  great  distress  of 
mind,  but  at  that  meeting  a  soul-satisfying  view  of  the  plan  of 
salvation,  brought  that  peace  which  Jesus  alone  by  the  Spirit 
can  communicate.  At  this  meeting  Mr.  McLin  had  the 
assistance  of  Revs.  John  Barnett,  William  Henry,  Dr.  John- 
son, a  licentiate,  and  Aaron  Shelby,  a  candidate."  He  also 
tells  us  that  Mr.  McLin  and  his  people  "  had  built  a  large  log 
meeting-house  here,  previous  to  their  camp-meeting.  The 
house  was  covered  but  not  floored."  In  all  probability  this 
was  the  first  church-house  built  by  our  people  in  Illinois.  It 
is  pleasing  to  know  that  this  congregation,  after  an  ex- 
istence of  more  than  half  a  century,  is  still  in  a  flourishing 
condition,  having  our  estimable  brother,  Rev.  J.  M.  Miller, 
as  pastor.  He  is  the  son  of  James  Miller,  who  held  the 
office  of  Ruling  Elder  from  the  day  of  his  appointment 
at  the  organization  of  the  congregation  to  the  day  of  his 
death  about  forty  years  ago.  His  son,  Rev.  J.  M.  Miller, 
has  been  the  successful  pastor  of  this  congregation  for  more 
than  thirty-two  years. 

At  its  organization,  the  following  were  set  apart  to  the 
office  of  Eldership  :  James  Mays,  Samuel  Craig  and  James 


2O  FIRST  PREACHERS,  ETC. 

Miller.  Soon  alter,  Lawrence  Rolofson,  J.  C.  Goudy 
and  Robert  Goudy  were  added.  Later,  William  Orr 
(yet  living  but  super-annuated — 82  years  old),  William 
Goudy  (dead),  D.  W.  Jamison  (dead),  J.  M.  Fields 
(dead).  The  present  Board  of  Elders  are  M.  A. 
Miller,  P.  M.  Orr,  P.  A.  Orr,  J.  M.  Miller,  Jr.,  and 
John  Tarrentine.  They  have  a  good  church  building  out 
of  debt,  a  congregation  in  good  working  order,  with  a  live 
Sabbath  school ;  and,  indeed,  they  are  exhibiting  all  the 
symptoms  of  life  and  vigor.  It  is  exceedingly  pleasant  to  be 
permitted  to  note  such  a  fact,  after  the  fluctuations  of  half  a 
century  in  this  exceedingly  fluctuating  country,  that  on  the 
spot  where  our  fathers  organized  the  first  church  in  Illinois, 
and  set  the  wheels  in  motion,  they  are  found  running  on  with 
ease  and  in  harmony  sixty  years  afterward. 

The  reader  will  also  remember  that  the  first  sermon  was 
preached  near  the  present  town  of  Golconda,  and  that  in 
that  community,  likewise,  Cumberland  Presbyterians  still 
hold  a  respectable  influence  after  the  lapse  of  three  score 
years.  The  results  of  the  first  camp-meeting,  too,  are  visible 
to  the  present  day.  Our  informant,  Mr.  Paisley,  says  there 
was  only  one  conversion  at  the  meeting,  and  that  "a  colored 
man;"  no  church  organized  or  attempted  to  be  organized  ; 
but  yet  such  were  the  seed  sown  and  the  happy  influences 
resulting  therefrom,  that  the}'  are  plainly  visible  to-day.  The 
causes  which  brought  about  this  first  camp-meeting  near 
Edwardsville  I  will  let  Mr.  Paisley  tell  in  his  own  language, 
merely  stating  that  the  writer  has  been  on  the  spot  of  ground 
many  a  time,  and  the  old  church  and  a  remnant  of  the  camp- 
ground are  still  standing  on  the  same  spot.  It  is  about  eight 
miles  south-east  of  the  city  of  Alton,  which  was  our  field  of 
labor  for  more  than  nineteen  years.  Mr.  Paisley  says  : 

"When  my  father  first  moved  to  Illinois  he  stopped  at  or 
near  Edwardsville,  Madison  county,  where  the  Robinsons, 
Barbers,  and  others  of  the  Old  Presbvterians,  as  thev  were 


FIRST  PREACHERS,  ETC.  21 

then  called,  and  a  few  Methodists  had  settled.  -  Nearly  all  of 
them  were  subjects  of  the  revival  of  1800,  but  were  not  of 
the  same  country.  There  was  none  of  them  but  a  few  of 
the  Methodists  that  knew  anything  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterians, but  they  were  religious,  and  they  soon  started  a 
prayer-meeting.  While  at  the  prayer-meeting,  in  view  of 
the  destitution  of  the  means  of  grace,  they  entered  into  a 
covenant  verbally  to  pray  for  a  revival  of  religion,  and  for 
some  one  to  break  to  them  the  bread  of  life,  agreeing  to 
receive  and  sustain  the  first  one  that  should  come.  Father, 
knowing  that  he  could  not  be  satisfied  with  any  but  a  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian,  as  soon  as  he  could,  sat  down  and 
wrote  to  Rev.  Wm.  Barnett  just  the  situation  he  was  in,  and 
his  great  anxiety  to  have  Cumberland  Presbyterian  preaching. 
He  never  told  any  one  what  he  had  done.  In  some  three  or 
four  weeks  he  got  notice  that  Mr.  Barnett  would  be  there, 
and  that  in  three  or  four  days,  and  would  hold  a  camp- 
meeting.  He  urged  father  to  be  ready.  That  is  why  the 
meeting  was  at  the  Methodist  camp-ground  near  Edwardsville. 
There  was  a  strong  prejudice  against  them  by  those  that 
knew  nothing  of  them,  but  it  was  not  long  till  the  most  of  it 
was  gone.  Father  Barber  and  the  two  Robinson  families, 
Joseph's  and  David's,  were  reconciled  and  converted  to 
Cumberlandism.  I  have  heard  quite  a  number  of  anecdotes 
of  their  fears  and  prejudices,  and  how  they  got  clear  of  them. 
Some  of  them  are  r*eal  amusing.  There  was  no  church 
organized  there  at  that  time,  though  there  was  material 
enough  if  they  had  stuck  together.  I  think  there  was  one 
profession  of  religion  at  that  meeting — a  colored  man.  Rev. 
Rice  was  a  man  of  considerable  ability  as  a  preacher,  but  he 
let  the  world  get  the  upper  hand  of  him,  and  his  usefulness 
was  lost  to  the  church.  He  was  at  the  camp-meeting  above 
named." 

At  the  risk  of  repeating  somewhat,  we  will  give  the  version 
of  this  camp-meeting  as  related  in  the  "Sketches"  of  Rev. 


22  FIRST  PREACHERS,  ETC. 

Joel  Knight,  as  it  throws  additional  light  upon  an  incident 
which  must  be  of  great  interest  to  all  who  love  to  read  of 
God's  guidance  of,  and  care  for,  his  true  disciples.  Mr. 
Knight  says  ("Sketches,"  August  8,  1873)  : 

"Some  time  previous  to  the  time  that  Mr.  McLin  settled 
in  White  county,  Mr.  Robert  Paisley,  a  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian from  Rev.  Finis  Ewing's  congregation  in  Kentucky, 
had  settled,  with  his  family,  in  Madison  county,  111.  John  Bar- 
ber, Joseph  Robinson,  and  some  other  families  of  revival 
Presbyterians,  lived  in  the  same  vicinity.  They  all  united 
in  forming  a  prayer-meeting,  which  became  quite  interesting 
Revival  Christians  in  those  days  could  talk,  exhort,  encourage 
Christians,  warn  sinners,  urge  them  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come,  call  them  forward  to  be  prayed  for,  instruct  and  labor 
for  their  salvation.  Well,  they  agreed  that  if  a  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  minister  should  be  the  first  that  came  to  preach 
to  them  that  they  would  all  join,  &c.  That  was  a  matter  of 
great  interest  with  Mr.  Paisley,  in  view  of  the  religious 
situation  of  that  community.  He  wrote  to  Rev.  Wm. 
Burnett,  of  Kentucky,  expressing  the  ardent  feelings  of  his 
very  heart,  and  requested  him  to  attend  a  meeting  with  them, 
appoint  a  camp-meeting,  and  give  them  one  meeting  at  the 
least.  Mr.  Barnett  told  Rev.  Finis  Ewing  of  this  letter, 
expressed  the  feelings  he  had  on  the  subject,  and  said  if  he 
had  a  suitable  horse  and  rigging  he  felt  like  he  would  go. 
Mr.  Ewing  told  him  if  he  would  furnish  him  with  that  letter 
he  would  fit  him  out.  He  furnished  it.  The  next  Sabbath, 
after  preaching,  Mr.  Ewing  read  the  letter  to  the  congrega- 
tion, and  told  them  the  object  was  to  raise  means  to  fit  out 
Mr.  Barnett  with  a  good  horse  and  equipage,  so  that  he 
might  meet  the  request.  The  money  was  promptly  raised, 
and  Mr.  Ewing  had  Mr.  Barnett  completely  fitted  out  for  the 
trip,  and  in  due  time  he  accomplished  it.  In  those  days 
Cumberland  preachers  did  not  ride  in  buggies.  But  we  see 
that  through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Paisley,  Rev.  Mr.  Barnett 


FIRST  PREACHERS,  ETC.  23 

was  induced  to  appoint  and  attend  a  camp-meeting  in  that 
part  of  the  then  new  West.  The  meeting  was  a  success  in 
the  new  country,  and  out  of  its  influence  grew  up  the  Goshen 
congregation  (now  Columbia).  Mr.  Barber's  family,  and 
two  of  the  Messrs.  Robinson  families,  constituted  the  pillars 
of  that  congregation,  but  the  other  Presbyterians  never 
joined. 

"After  that  Rev.  Green  P.  Rice  moved  into  that  region  of 
the  country  and  preached  to  them  a  short  time  ;  subsequently 
to  St.  Louis,  and  finally  to  Bond  county,  and  settled  where 
the  county  seat  was  located,  and  it  was  called  Greenville  for 
him. 

"Mr.  Paisley  also  moved  and  settled  on  the  north  side  of 
Bond  county.  Here  Mr.  Rice  organized  a  congregation  by 
the  name  of  Bear  Creek.  Robert  Paisley  and  John  Kirk- 
patrick  were  the  first  ruling  elders.  Part  of  the  membership 
was  in  Bond  and  part  in  Montgomery  counties." 

THE    SECOND    CHURCH. 

The  writer  is  satisfied  that  this  was  the  second  congrega- 
tion of  Cumberland  Presbyterians  organized  in  what  is  now 
the  State  of  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Paisley  says  it  was  organized 
out  of  the  persons  who  attended  that  prayer-meeting,  and 
was  the  result  of  the  first  camp-meeting  already  referred  to. 
He  further  says,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer,  that  this  congrega- 
tion was  organized  by  Rev.  Mr.  Rice  "at  the  house  of 
William  Robinson,  some  three  miles  north  of  Greenville. 
The  first  members  were  father  and  mother,  Jonathan  Berry 
and  wife,  William  Young  and  wife — just  six  in  all.  Mr. 
Thomas  Elison  and  wife  joined  soon  after.  In  the  course  of 
twelve  or  eighteen  months  Mr.  Joseph  Williams  and  wife, 
John  Kirkpatrick  and  family  joined.  This  organization  was 
in  1818  or  1819,  and  was  the  start  of  Bear  Creek  church, 
now  at  Donnellson,  Montgomery  county,  111." 

I     feel    sure    that    this    organization   was    in    1819.     This 


24  FIRST  PREACHERS,  ETC. 

congregation  for  some  years  embraced  the   membership  of 
what  is  now  Madison,  Bond  and  Montgomery  counties. 

EARLY   DAYS AN    INCIDENT. 

In  looking  over  the  early  days  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in 
this  country,  and  of  the  efforts  of  Presbyterianism  in  par- 
ticular, a  friend  has  called  my  attention  to  the  following 
item,  found  in  the  "Life  and  Times  of  Rev.  Stephen  Bliss," 
a  pioneer  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  We  are 
sure  all  Cumberland  Presbyterians  will  be  interested  in  it. 
It  says :  "In  1810  or  1811  the  Rev.  James  McGready,  of 
the  Muhlenberg  Presbytery,  Ky.,  made  missionary  tours  into 
Southern  Indiana,  and  having  penetrated  into  Illinois  as  far 
as  White  county  to  a  settlement  of  emigrants  from  the 
Carolinas,  Georgia,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  he  organized 
the  Sharon  church  in  1816.  This  is  the  oldest  Presbyterian, 
and,  so  far  as  known,  the  oldest  Protestant  church  in  the 
State." 

Two  points  in  this  statement  are  of  intense  interest  to  us, 
if  true:  First,  that  the  "mother  Church"  entered  the 
territory  of  Illinois  and  organized  a  church  but  one  year  in 
advance  of  the  cast-off  daughter.  Second,  that  this  first 
Presbyterian  church  was  the  result  of  the  labors  of  Rev.  Mr. 
McGready,  who,  under  God,  was  the  main  instrument  of  the 
revival  influences  out  of  which  grew  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  So  the  strong  and  powerful  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Illinois  is  indebted,  for  their  first  organized  church 
in  the  State,  to  the  enterprise  of  that  man  whom  Kentucky 
Synod  suspended  from  the  ministry  for  endorsing  the  revival 
measures,  and  sympathizing  with  the  fathers,  doctrines  and 
measures  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians. 

From  these  two  small  beginnings — Hopewell  in  White 
county  and  Bear  Creek  in  Madison  (now  Bond)  county— 
have  sprung,  in  less  than  sixty  years,  the  ten  Presbyteries, 
three  Synods,  and  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  congrega- 


FIRST  PREACHERS,  ETC.  25 

tions  which  are  now  scattered  over  the  State.-  Mr.  Knight 
refers  to  Goshen  congregation,  and  to  the  fact  that  "a  part  of 
the  membership"  of  this  Bear  Creek  congregation  "was  in 
Bond  and  a  part  in  Montgomery  counties."  The  part  of 
them  near  Edwardsville  was  organized,  not  long  after  this, 
into  the  old  Goshen  church  ;  and  the  first  meeting  the  writer 
ever  attended  in  the  State  of  Illinois  was  at  this  old  church 
house.  It  stood  about  three  miles  south-east  of  the  town. 
This  was  in  the  Spring  or  Summer  of  1853.  Removals  and 
deaths  have  greatly  thinned  their  numbers,  but  the  congre- 
gation still  exists,  holding  its  place  of  worship  a  few  miles 
east  of  Edwardsville,  where  they  have  a  neat  and  comfortable 
chapel.  The  congregation  includes  some  of  the  leading  and 
most  influential  citizens  in  the  county. 

It  is  a  pleasing  fact  to  record,  that  at  all  the  points  where 
Cumberland  Presbyterians  first  organized  their  work  in  the 
Territory  or  State,  they  have  held  their  ground  and  made 
creditable  advancement. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERY WHEN,    WHERE,    AND    BY    WHOM  ORGAN- 
IZED  ITS  SUBSEQUENT  HISTORY  FOR  SEVERAL  YEARS. 

IT  must  be  remembered  that  a  part  of  Illinois — the  West- 
ern part — was,  by  action  of  the  old  Cumberland  Synod,  made 
a  part  of  McGee  Presbytery.  This  Presbytery,  therefore, 
held  Rev.  Mr.  Rice  as  a  member,  while  Mr.  McLin  still 
held  his  membership  in  Logan  Presbytery  (until  Anderson 
was  stricken  off),  which  at  one  time  covered  all  Indian?  and 
the  east  half  of  Illinois,  as  well  as  all  Kentucky. 

MC'GEE    PRESBYTERY, 

the  first  Presbytery  west  of  the  Mississippi,  was  organized 
in  Pike  county,  Mo.,  in  the  Spring  of  1820.  "The  first  mem- 
bers were  Rice,  of  Illinois,  Morrow  (R.  D.)  and  Buie,  of 
Missouri,  and  John  Carnahan,  of  Arkansas." — Historical 
Sketches,  page  12.  Three  years  after  this  the  Presbytery  of 
Illinois  was  organized,  according  to  a  previous  order  of  Synod. 
We  will  let  Mr.  Knight  tell  the  story  in  his  own  words,  as  he 
was  present  as  a  licensed  preacher.  He  wrote  in  1873  : 

"In  the  Fall  of  1822,  the  Synod  passed  an  order  for  the 
State  of  Illinois  to  be  stricken  off  from  Anderson  Presbytery,* 
and  for  Illinois  Presbytery  to  be  formed  the  succeeding 
Spring,  in  May,  in  Mr.  Rice's  congregation  (Bear  Creek). 
Mr.  Rice  was  to  be  the  first  Moderator,  and,  in  case  he 


*  Father  Knight  is  mistaken  about  the  entire  State  of  Illinois  being  in 
Anderson  1'ivsbytery.  A  part  \\;i>  in  AlrCcr  Presbytery,  as  the  order  for  the 
or-.uii/.-.ition  of  the  ii'-w  Presbytery  will  show. — |  E». 


FIRST    PRESBYTERY,    ETC.,  27 

should  be   absent,   then  Mr.   McLin.     Mr.  Rice  was  at  that 
time  on  a  visit  South  with  his  family,  and  never  returned. 

"A  camp-meeting  was  appointed  to  immediately  precede 
the  organization  of  the  Presbytery.  The  ordained  ministers, 
except  Mr.  Rice,  all  attended.  The  writer  was  a  licentiate 
and  also  attended.  Vandalia,  then  a  mere  village  on  the 
bank  of  Oakaw  (Kaskaskia)  river,  was  then  the  seat  of 
government  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  Messrs.  McLin,  Hamil- 
ton, I  think,  one  or  two  elders  and  myself,  traveled  from 
White  county.  When  we  got  to  the  bottom  land  of  the  river, 
it  was  all  covered  with  water  so  deep  as  to  be  dangerous  for 
strangers  to  cross.  We  hired  a  pilot.  When  we  got  to  the 
bed  of  the  river  there  was  a  little  dry  land  on  the  bank  where 
we  could  dismount,  take  off  our  rigging,  then  swim  our 
horses  across,  one  at  a  time,  by  the  side  of  a  skiff,  and  then 
we  were  in  Vandalia. 

"The  meeting  in  this  wild  country  in  the  Spring  of  the 
year  was  a  good  one.  Many  professed  religion  who  became 
church  members.  When  the  meeting  closed,  on  Tuesday 
morning  we  repaired  across  the  prairie  about  three  miles  to 
the  house  of  John  Kirkpatrick,  and  there  constituted  and 
organized  Illinois  Presbytery  in  May,  1823.  Rev.  Messrs. 
David  W.  McLin,  John  M.  Berry  and  Woods  M.  Hamilton, 
being  all  the  ministers  then  in  the  State,  were  all  present. 
When  the  first  meeting  of  Illinois  Presbytery  closed,  it 
adjourned  to  meet  in  a  congregation  a  short  distance  north  of 
Shawneetown,  Gallatin  county,  111.  But  before  it  closed,  an 
order  was  passed  for  the  ordination  of  Jesse  Pearce,  and  an 
intermediate  Presbytery  to  meet  in  Hopewell  congregation  at 
the  camp-meeting  in  August  for  that  purpose.  When  the 
time  came  Mr.  Pearce  was  ordained.  Besides  other  business, 
the  writer  was  ordered  to  form  a  circuit,  including  Bear 
Creek  in  the  eastern  part,  and  to  extend  as  far  west  as 
Edwardsville,  in  Madison  county.  A  camp-meeting  was  also 
appointed  to  be  held  in  Bond  county,  some  four  miles  north- 


28  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

west  of  Greenville,  and  I  was  directed  to  collect  what  material 
I  could  and  have  them  ready  for  organization  at  the  camp- 
meeting,  which  was  done  to  the  best  of  my  ability.  At  the 
meeting  the  congregation  was  organized,  bearing  the  name 
of  Mt.  Gilead." 

I  have  been  kindly  furnished  the  minutes  of  this  Presbytery 
for  all  the  years  until  it  was  divided.  I  deem  it  of  sufficient 
interest  to  copy  the  first  minutes  entire.  The  book  in  which 
these  minutes  are  kept  is  in  excellent  preservation.  The 
first  minutes  are  in  a  clear,  bold,  plain  hand,  and  are  just  as 
the  Clerk  left  them  more  than  fifty-five  years  since.  I  have 
had  an  inexpressibly  sad  and  strange  pleasure  in  handling 
these  pages,  and  reading  after  the  venerable  and  godly  men 
whose  acts  are  herein  recorded.  Every  one  of  those  taking 
any  part  in  that  Presbyterial  meeting,  so  far  as  I  know,  have 
gone  to  their  reward.  How  little  did  they  dream  that,  when 
they  met  in  that  unpretending  log  cabin  on  that  beautiful  May 
morning  in  that  then  wild,  wilderness  country,  they  were 
setting  in  motion  an  agency  which,  notwithstanding  their 
poverty  and  lack  of  worldly  fame,  would,  in  half  a  century, 
be  multiplied  more  than  ten  fold  in  the  membership  of  the 
Church,  and  a  hundred  fold  in  other  elements  of  power  and 
influences  for  good,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel. 

Before  proceeding  to  quote  from  the  records  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, I  must  say  a  few  words  about  Rev.  J.  M.  Berry  and 
his  work.  We  have  already  seen  that  Rev.  Messrs.  McLin 
and  Hamilton  had  settled  in  White  county,  in  the  south- 
eastern portion  of  the  State,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Rice  in  the 
south-western  portion,  in  Madison,  and  afterwards  in  Bond 
county.  Rev.  John  M.  Berry,  when  he  came  into  the  State, 
settled  in  what  was  called  the  Sangamon  country,  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  settled  portion  of  the  State,  not  far  from 
Springfield,  the  present  Capital.  He  was  an  active,  ener- 
getic, and  very  successful  minister.  Soon  large  and  flour- 
ishing churches  sprang  up  all  over  his  territory  of  operations. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERY,    ETC.  29 

THE  FIRST  CHURCH  NORTH. 

Among  the  first,  if  not  the  first  organized  congregation  in 
the  Sangamon  country,  was  Sugar  Creek  church,  which  is 
still  in  existence,  about  ten  miles  south  of  Springfield.  The 
old-time  church  house  has  been  replaced  by  a  beautiful, 
large,  and  commodious  buildipg  of  modern  shape  and  finish, 
which  has  a  large,  intelligent,  and  pious  membership  sur- 
rounding, filling  it  to  overflowing  at  the  regular  periods  for 
worship.  It  has  been  my  privilege  to  worship  with  them  on 
several  occasions,  and  therefore  I  can  speak  from  personal 
knowledge.  But  to  the  Presbytery. 

I  find  on  the  record  of  this  Presbytery  for  many  years, 
beginning  with  its  organization,  a  notice  of  "elders"  present, 
and  also  of  "representatives"  present.  Knowing  that  all 
"representatives"  were  elders,  I  have  been  puzzled  to  know 
just  why  "elders"  who  were  not  "representatives"  should  be 
taken  notice  of  at  all.  I  have  surmised,  but  do  not  know, 
that,  being  young  and  weak,  they  welcomed  the  presence  and 
counsel  of  all  elders  who  might  attend,  but  did  not  regard 
them  as  actual  members.  If  this  is  not  the  solution  of  this 
matter,  then  the  reader  must  solve  it  for  himself. 

ORGANIZING  THE  PRESBYTERY. 

"Whereas,  the  Cumberland  Synod  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  at  the  session  of  1822,  ordered  a  Pres- 
bytery to  be  stricken  off  from  Anderson  and  McGee 
Presbyteries,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  Illinois  Presbytery, 
including  the  State  of  Illinois  ; 

"Agreeable  to  the  order  of  Synod,  the  Illinois  Presbytery 
met  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  May,  1823,  at  the  house  of  John 
Kirkpatrick,  Montgomery  county,  State  of  Illinois.  Opened 
by  a  sermon  delivered  by  Rev.  David  W.  McLin,  from 
second  epistle  to  Timothy,  4th  chapter  and  2d  verse.  Con- 
stituted by  prayer.  Members  present:  the  Revs.  Messrs. 
David  W.  McLin,  John  M.  Berry  and  Woods  M.  Hamilton. 


3O  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

Absent:  Green  P.  Rice.  Elders:  John  Hamilton,  John 
Kirkpatrick  and  John  M.  Cameron. 

"John  M.  Berry  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Woods  M. 
Hamilton  Clerk. 

"Gilbert  Dodds,  Thomas  Bone,  Nimrod  G.  Ferguson, 
Joel  Knight,  Jesse  Pearce,  and  John  Porter,  licentiates,  and 
Benjamin  Bruce,  John  Files,  and  John  Pearce,  candidates, 
having  been  dismissed  from  the  Anderson  Presbytery,*  and 
by  them  recommended  to  the  care  of  the  Illinois  Presbytery, 

" Resolved,  That  the  above  named  licentiates  and  candi- 
dates be  considered  under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 

"Ordered  that  each  licentiate  and  candidate  attend  Pres- 
bytery from  time  to  time,  to  be  examined  on  English 
Grammar  and  Divinity. 

"Synod  having  passed  an  order  that  each  Presbytery  report 
to  Synod  on  the  state  of  religion  annually,  therefore,  to  possess 
this  Presbytery  of  the  information  necessary  to  compose  their 
report,  Resolved,  that  each  ordained  preacher  and  licentiate 
keep  a  journal,  and  make  a  report  of  the  state  of  religion 
within  the  bounds  where  he  preaches  to  each  Presbytery. 

"Robert  Paisley,  representative  from  Bear  Creek  society, 
attended  and  took  his  seat. 

'•'•Resolved)  That  the  following  Preamble  and  Constitution 
be  recommended  to  the  societies  under  the  care  of  this 
Presbytery : 

"The  Illinois  Presbytery,  taking  into  view  the  necessity  of 
missionary  labors,  recommend  to  the  organized,  enrolled 
societies  under  her  care  to  form  missionary  societies,  the 
object  of  which  is  to  raise  funds  for  the  support  of  mission- 
aries within  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery. 

"FORM  OF  THE  PROPOSED  CONSTITUTION. 

"ARTICLE  I. — We,  the  undersigned,  agree  to  form  our- 
selves into  a  society,  to  be  known  as Missionary 

Society. 


FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC.  3! 

4 'ARTICLE  2. — Each  member  shall  contribute  the  sum 
annexed  to  his  or  her  name,  respectively,  twice  a  year. 

"ARTICLE  3. — This  Society  shall,  at  their  first  meeting, 
choose  a  Treasurer,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  receive  all 
moneys  of  the  Society,  and  transmit  the  same  to  Presbytery 
at  each  session. 

"ARTICLE  4. — The  Illinois  Presbytery  is  hereby  constituted 
a  Board  of  Missions,  and  shall  distribute  the  moneys  received 
from  this  Society  to  her  missionaries  at  discretion. 

"ARTICLE  5. — Any  member  may  withdraw  at  pleasure, 
paying  arrearages.  < 

"The  Synod  having  passed  an  order  requiring  each 
Presbytery  to  adopt  some  measure  to  coerce  the  attendance 
of  elders  at  Synod ;  therefore  Resolved,  that  each  ordained 
preacher,  in  the  Society  or  Societies  where  he  preaches, 
shall  appoint  two  elders,  who  shall  hold  themselves  in  readiness 
to  attend  Synod,  one  of  whom  shall  be  first  named,  on  whom 
the  duty  shall  devolve,  unless  providentially  prevented.  In 
such  case  the  duty  shall  devolve  on  the  other ;  and  if  either 
should  refuse,  he  shall  be  dealt  with  as  contumacious. 

"Ordered  that  Nimrod  G.  Ferguson  ride  and  preach  the 
whole  of  his  time  on  the  Golconda  district  until  our  next 
Presbytery ;  Thomas  Bone  the  whole  of  his  time  on  the 
Shawneetown  district ;  and  Joel  Knight  three  months  on  the 
Shoal  Creek  district. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Saturday  before  the  first  Sabbath  in 
June  next  be  observed  throughout  the  bounds  of  the  Illinois 
Presbytery  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  the  object  of 
which  is,  that  the  Lord  may  revive  his  work,  and  call  and 
send  forth  laborers  into  his  vineyard. 

"Presbytery  adjourned  to  meet  to-morrow  morning  at 
seven  o'clock.  Concluded  with  prayer. 

"Wednesday  morning,  Presbytery  met  agreeable  to  ad- 
journment. Constituted  by  prayer.  Members  present  as  on 
yesterday,  except  Robert  Paisley. 


32  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

* 

"Benjamin  Bruce  read  a  discourse  from  a  text  previously 
assigned  him  by  the  Anderson  Presbytery,  which  was  sus- 
tained as  a  part  of  trial.  Ordered  that  Benjamin  Bruce 
prepare  a  written  discourse  from  John,  3d  chapter  and  7th 
verse  ;  John  Files  from  ist  Peter,  4th  chapter,  i8th  verse  ; 
and  John  Pearce  from  Luke,  I3th  chapter,  5th  verse,  to  be 
read  at  our  next  Presbytery. 

"Presbytery  examined  John  M.  Cameron  and  Josiah  Kirk- 
patrick  on  their  knowledge  of  experimental  religion,  and 
their  internal  call  and  motives  to  the  ministry ;  which 
examinations  were  sustained.  Their  moral  characters  stand- 
ing fair,  and  they  being  in  communion  of  the  Church,  were 
received  as  candidates  for  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Or- 
dered that  John  M.  Cameron  prepare  a  written  discourse 
from  Amos,  4th  chapter,  last  part  of  I2th  verse,  and  Josiah 
Kirkpatrick  from  John,  pth  chapter,  last  part  of  the  25th 
verse,  to  be  read  at  our  next  Presbytery. 

"Robert  Paisley  attended  and  took  his  seat,  whose  excuse 
for  absence  was  sustained. 

"Ordered  that  John  M.  Berry,  David  W.  McLin  and 
Woods  M.  Hamilton  meet  at  Hopewell  meeting-house,  White 
county,  State  of  Illinois,  on  the  Friday  before  the  first 
Sabbath  in  August  next,  and  constitute  an  intermediate 
Presbytery  for  the  purpose  of  ordaining  Jesse  Pearce,  and 
that  he  deliver  a  discourse  from  Romans,  zoth  chapter,  4th 
verse,  and  prepare  to  be  examined  on  the  different  branches 
required  by  Discipline  preparatory  to  ordination  ;  that  John 
M.  Berry  preach  the  ordination  sermon,  and  David  W. 
McLin  preside  and  give  the  charge. 

"Ordered  that  Woods  M.  Hamilton  be,  and  he  is  hereby 
appointed  Stated  Clerk. 

"Ordered  that  each  ordained  preacher  attend  to  public 
examinations  in  the  organized  Societies  within  our  bounds 
once  a  year. 

"Presbytery    adjourned  to   meet    at  New   Salem  meeting 


FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC.  33 

house,    Gallatin    county,    State    of  Illinois,    on    the    second 
Tuesday  in  October,  1823.     Concluded  with  prayer. 

"JOHN  M.  BERRY,  Moderator. 
" WOODS  M.  HAMILTON,  Clerk." 

We  have  given  this  minute  entire  and  "verbatim ,  that  the 
reader  may  see  the  spirit  of  the  men  who,  under  God,  first 
planted  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  State  of 
Illinois.  With  two  of  the  ordained  ministers  comprising  this 
Presbytery  it  was  my  pleasure  to  be  acquainted  personally  ; 
to-wit,  Mr.  Berry  and  Mr.  Hamilton.  Mr.  McLin  died  before 
my  acquaintance  in  the  State.  Mr.  Berry  was  a  strong-minded, 
resolute,  bold,  and  very  successful  minister,  whose  praise 
was  in  all  the  churches.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  man  univers- 
ally beloved,  and  in  the  first  part  of  his  ministry,  as  well  as 
in  the  latter  part,  he  was  greatly  useful.  For  a  few  years  at 
one  time  he  was  suspended  from  the  ministry ;  but  such  was 
his  humble  walk  and  Godly  conversation  during  this  season 
that  he  won  the  confidence  of  even  his  enemies  ;  and  his 
neighbors — members  of  different  churches  and  the  outside 
world — all  joined  in.  an  urgent  petition  to  Presbytery  to 
remove  the  suspension.  It  was  done  ;  and  to  the  close  of  a 
long  life  he  never  gave  any  one  cause  to  regret  the  confidence 
thus  reposed  in  him.  Mr.  McLin  was  not  inferior  to  either 
of  the  others  mentioned.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of 
strong  convictions,  great  resolution,  and  constant  devotion  to 
his  Master's  cause.  He  was  greatly  successful.  We  shall 
have  more  to  record  in  another  place  of  all  these  noble  men. 

I  may  mention,  also,  that  the  place  where  this  organization 
and  meeting  was  held  is  now  about  the  geographical  center 
of  Vandalia  Presbytery,  the  field  where  God  in  his  providence 
has  placed  the  writer  for  more  than  twenty  years ;  and  it  is 
pleasing  to  note  that  around  that  spot  of  ground  in  all 
directions  are  Cumberland  Presbyterian  churches :  our 
people  being  more  numerous  in  that  county  than  in  any  other 


34  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

in  the  State,  with,  perhaps,  one  exception.  It  has  been  my 
privilege  to  preach  at  old  Bear  Creek  church  many  a  time. 
It  is  one  of  the  strongest  in  the  Presbytery,  having  a  good 
brick  church  house,  a  worthy  pastor,  and  an  efficient  Sunday- 
school  and  membership. 

Of  all  who  attended  this  Presbytery,  either  as  ministers, 
elders,  or  candidates,  not  one  is  living,  except  Rev.  J.  M. 
Cameron,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  became  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry  at  this  Presbytery.  At  last  accounts  he  was  living 
at  Sebastopol,  California,  a  very  old  man.* 

All  these  were  pre-eminently  self-sacrificing  men.  They 
loved  souls,  and  did  an  immense  amount  of  labor  for  very 
little  pay  in  the  treasures  of  this  world.  But  they  were  men 
"rich  in  faith,"  "strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  his 
might." 

FIRST  MINISTER  ORDAINED. 

As  we  have  seen,  an  intermediate  Presbytery  was  ap- 
pointed, at  which  Rev.  Jesse  Pearce  was  ordained.  He  was, 
therefore,  the  first  man  set  apart  by  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rians to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry  on  the  soil  of 
Illinois.  The  session  was  at  old  Hopewell,  White  county. 
John  M.  Berry  was  Moderator,  Woods  M.  Hamilton  Clerk  ; 
and  the  ordination  took  place  August  I,  1823. 

SUBSEQUENT  MEETINGS. 

The  next  regular  meeting  was  held  at  New  Salem  meeting 
house,  Gallatin  county,  Illinois,  on  October  I4th,  1823. 
Members  present :  Berry,  McLin,  and  Hamilton  ;  Absent : 
G.  P.  Rice.  The  opening  sermon  was  preached  by  Mr. 
McLin.  Elders  present:  Payton  Mitchell,  James  Miller  and 
John  Files.  Representatives  :  John  Kirkpatrick  from  Bear 
Creek,  Joseph  M.  Street  from  New  Salem,  John  Barber 
from  Mt.  Gilead,  and  Richard  Harris  from  Village  Society. 


r.  Cameron  ha>  <lic-l  >in<-r  tli<-  a  I  •«••»(•  \\as  written.      V.\>. 


FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC.  35 

Mr.  Berry  was  Moderator  and  Mr.  Hamilton  Clerk.  Jesse 
Pearce  was  invited  and  took  a  seat  for  the  first  time  as  a 
member.  At  this  meeting  John  Barber,  Payton  Mitchell, 
James  E.  Davis  and  James  T.  Alexander  were  received  as 
candidates  for  the  ministry.  Green  P.  Rice,  by  letter,  re- 
quested a  letter  of  dismission  and  recommendation  to  some 
Presbytery  South,  which  was  granted.  Benjamin  Bruce, 
John  M.  Cameron  and  John  Files  read  discourses,  which 
were  sustained  as  parts  of  trial.  At  this  meeting  we  find 
Rev.  David  Foster  present  from  Nashville  Presbytery,  and 
invited  to  a  seat  in  counsel.  Jesse  Pearce  was  ordered  to 
ride  and  preach  the  whole  of  his  time  in  the  Golconda  dis- 
trict. On  the  last  day  of  Presbytery  two  more  candidates 
were  received — John  W.  McCord  and  Richard  Harris.  An 
order  was  passed  for  the  ordination  of  Joel  Knight  at  next 
session  of  Presbytery.  Thomas  Bone,  licentiate,  was  dis- 
missed by  letter  at  his  request.  Joel  Knight  and  Thomas 
Bone  had  filled  the  missions  assigned,  and  Nimrod  G.  Fer- 
guson had  ridden  but  two  months,  on  account  of  sickness. 
His  excuse  was  sustained.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  draft 
a  circular  letter  to  all  the  churches  ;  but  we  are  not  told  who 
the  committee  were,  nor  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  retained. 

The  next  meeting  was  at  the  house  of  James  Johnson, 
Bond  county,  April  6,  1824.  Ministers  present:  McLin, 
Hamilton,  Pearce  and  Berry.  Elders  :  James  Miller,  Samuel 
Hill,  Henry  Grimes  and  John  M.  Cameron.  Representatives  : 
Richard  Harris  from  Village,  John  Files  from  Shiloh,  Robert 
Paisley  from  Bear  Creek,  and  Thomas  Hunter  from  Mt. 
Gilead  Societies.  Mr.  Pearce  was  Moderator  and  Mr.  Berry 
Clerk.  Joel  Knight  and  Nimrod  G.  Ferguson  were  set 
apart  to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry.  Mr.  Hamilton 
preached  the  ordination  sermon,  and  Mr.  McLin  gave  the 
charge.  John  Knight  and  Thomas  Hunter  were  received  as 
candidates  for  the  ministry.  John  Barber  and  John  W. 
McCord  were  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  Mr.  Fer- 


36  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

guson  was  to  preach  all  his  time  in  the  Golconda  district ; 
Mr.  McCord  three  months  in  the  Shawneetown  district ;  Mr. 
Barber  four  months  in  the  Shoal  Creek  district ;  and  Mr. 
Porter  two  months  in  the  Sangamon  district.  The  second 
Saturdays  in  June  and  August  were  set  apart  as  days  of 
fasting  and  prayer. 

The  next  meeting  was  at  Hopewell  meeting  house,  White 
county,  October  5th,  1824.  Ministers  present:  McLin, 
Hamilton,  Berry,  Pearce,  Knight  and  Ferguson.  Six  elders 
were  present,  and  three  representatives.  Mr.  Knight  was 
Moderator,  and  Mr.  Ferguson  Clerk — both  placed  in  office 
at  the  first  meeting  of  Presbytery  after  their  ordination. 
Eight  candidates  read  discourses,  which  were  sustained  as 
parts  of  trial.  Thomas  Campbell,  a  licentiate  from  the  An- 
derson Presbytery,  was  received  by  letter  and  his  name 
placed  on  the  roll.  Alexander  F.  Trousdale,  Marmaduke 
S.  Ferguson  and  William  Davis  were  received  as  candidates. 
Mr.  Pearce  was  ordered  to  ride  and  preach  two  months  in 
the  Golconda  district,  and  Mr.  Hamilton  two  months  in  the 
Shawneetown  district. 

The  Spring  session  of  1825  met  at  Bear  Creek  church, 
Montgomery  county.  Ministers  present :  McLin,  Hamilton, 
Berry,  Pearce,  Knight,  and  Ferguson  ;  elders,  five;  repre- 
sentatives, four.  Mr.  Ferguson  was  the  Moderator  and  Mr. 
Knight  Clerk.  An  intermediate  Presbytery  had  been  ap- 
pointed for  the  purpose  of  ordaining  Thomas  Campbell,  but 
it  failed  of  a  quorum,  and  Mr.  Campbell  was  ordained  at 
this  session.  Mr.  McLin  preached  the  ordination  sermon 
and  gave  the  charge  also.  Neill  Johnson  was  received  as  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry  at  this  session.  Inquiry  was  made 
if  the  order  had  been  complied  with  about  catechising  or 
holding  public  examinations  on  the  Shorter  Catechism.  All 
reported  compliance  but  one,  and  his  excuse  was  sustained. 
Benjamin  Bruce,  James  T.  Alexander  and  John  Knight  were 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  all  put  upon  circuits. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERY,    ETC.  37 

1 

The  Fall  session  of  Presbytery  met  October  u,  1824,  at 
Village  church,  White  county.  Present:  McLin,  Berry, 
Hamilton  and  Knight.  Absent :  Ferguson  and  Campbell. 
Elders  five  and  representatives  five.  Mr.  Berry  was  Mod- 
erator and  Hamilton  Clerk.  John  W.  McCord  was  granted 
a  letter  of  dismission  and  recommendation.  Here  came  up 
the  first  reference  of  a  trial  case  upon  which  the  advice  of 
the  Presbytery  was  asked.  It  was  from  Hopewell  society, 
and  about  a  man  charged  with  "perjury."  The  Presbytery 
decided,  from  the  evidence  submitted,  that  the  man  was 
guilty,  and  advised  the  church  to  act  toward  him  accordingly. 
John  Files,  a  candidate,  is  here  kindly  dismissed,  the  Pres- 
bytery believing  his  calling  and  gifts  were  only  to  "exhort;" 
and  they  tenderly  advise  him  accordingly, 

SHALL  THERE  BE  A  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  ? 

At  this  session  we  find  the  Presbytery  acting  upon  what 
form  of  government  the  Church  should  have  in  the  future,  as 
the  question  had  been  sent  down  to  them  from  Cumberland 
Synod,  "Whether  they  desire  a  continuation  of  the  present 
form  of  government,  or  form  a  delegated  Synod,  or  divide 
the  Synod  and  form  a  General  Assembly."  The  reader  will 
see  the  question  was  three-sided.  The  Presbytery  answered 
as  follows  : 

"Resolved,  Therefore,  that  this  Presbytery  is  of  opinion 
that  the  state  and  interest  of  the  Church  require  a  division  of 
the  Synod  and  the  formation  of  a  General  Assembly." 

Another  important  action  was  the  examination  into  and 
acquital  of  James  T.  Alexander  of  a  "scandalous  report" 
against  his  character.  They  pronounced  him  "not  guilty." 
Ezekiel  Porter  and  James  S.  Smith  were  received  as  candi- 
dates. James  E.  Davis,  Alexander  F.  Trousdale,  Marma- 
duke  S.  Ferguson  and  Richard  Harris  were  licensed  to 
preach. 


38  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC- 

TEMPERANCE  PLEDGE. 

We  find  the  Presbytery  at  this  session  placing  itself  on 
record  in  favor  of  temperance,  and  against  the  "evils  result- 
ing from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,"  and  forming  themselves 
into  a  temperance  society.  We  very  much  regret  that  they 
did  not  spread  their  constitution  and  pledge  upon  their 
records.  But  it  is  cheering  to  find  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terians in  the  front  rank  of  the  temperance  cause,  from  its 
first  initiation  into  the  State  to  the  present  day.  Indeed,  we 
may  go  further  and  say,  as  a  denomination  they  have  always 
been  in  the  front.  Their  voice,  though  comparatively  feeble, 
has  always  been  distinct,  and  by  no  means  uncertain.  It  has 
been  as  common  and  natural  for  our  preachers  to  preach 
temperance  as  to  preach  any  other  Bible  truth.  Our  judica- 
tories  everywhere  have  spoken  out  in  no  uncertain  sounds  on 
this  question. 

The  Spring  session  of  Presbytery  met  at  the  house  of 
Joseph  Robinson,  in  Madison  county,  the  first  Tuesday  in 
April,  1826.  Present:  Berry,  McLin,  Pearce,  Knight. 
Absent :  Hamilton,  Ferguson  and  Campbell.  Elders  present, 
two.  Rev.  Robert  Sloan,  a  member  of  Arkansas  Presbytery, 
was  present  and  took  part  as  an  advisory  member.  William 
Finley  was  received  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  Josiah 
Kirkpatrick,  a  candidate,  was  discontinued.  "The  Presby- 
tery, in  examining  his  case,  from  the  best  evidence  obtained, 
were  led  to  conclude  that  his  gift  and  call  were  not  to 
preach,  and  in  the  spirit  of  brotherly  love"  discontinued  him. 
Likewise  Thomas  Hunter,  at  his  own  request,  was  also  dis- 
continued as  a  candidate.  John  M.  Cameron  was  licensed, 
in  the  usual  form,  to  preach  the  gospel.  John  Barber  and 
Gilbert  Dodds  were  ordained  to  the  whole  work  of  the 
ministry,  Mr.  McLin  preaching  the  ordination  sermon  and 
Mr.  Berry  presiding  and  giving  the  charge.  We  find  the 
following  on  this  minute,  which  we  transcribe  :  "Whereas, 
Synod  having  passed  a  resolution  that  each  Presbytery  be 


FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC.  39 

recommended  to  request  the  preachers  and  sessions  to  appoint 
special  meetings  for  the  purpose  of  examining  seekers  o'f 
religion,  and  others,  on  the  state  of  their  souls,  Resolved, 
That  each  preacher  appoint  and  attend  such  meetings  occa- 
sionally, where  and  when  he  may  think  proper."  At  this 
session  Mr.  Knight  was  Moderator  and  Mr.  Pearce  Clerk. 

The  Fall  session  of  1826  was  held  at  Hopewell,  in  White 
county.  Present :  McLin,  Hamilton,  Knight,  Barber  and 
Ferguson.  Absent :  Berry,  Campbell,  (three  times,)  Dodds 
and  Pearce.  Elders,  three.  Representatives,  four.  Mr. 
Barber  was  Moderator  and  Mr.  Ferguson  Clerk.  Rev. 
David  M.  Kirkpatrick,  a  member  of  McGee  Presbytery, 
being  present,  took  part  as  an  advisory  member.  David 
Miller,  John  Crawford,  Anthony  L.  Hamilton  and  Samuel 
Abbott  were  received  as  candidates,  James  S.  Smith  and 
Ezekiel  Porter,  for  "satisfactory  evidence,  were  dismissed 
from  under  the  care  of  Presbytery.'" 

The  Spring  session  of  Presbytery  met  at  Mt.  Gilead  meet- 
ing house,  in  Bond  county,  first  Monday  in  March,  1827. 
Present :  McLin,  Berry,  Hamilton,  Knight,  Campbell,  Barber 
and  Dodds.  Absent:  Pearce  and  Ferguson.  Represen- 
tatives, seven.  Mr.  Berry  was  Moderator  and  Mr.  Dodds 
Clerk.  At  this  session  John  Porter  was  set  apart  to  the  whole 
work  of  the  ministry.  Mr.  Berry  preached  the  ordination 
sermon,  Mr.  McLin  presided,  and  Mr.  Hamilton  gave  the 
charge.  Stringent  rules  were  adopted  to  secure  prompt  at- 
tendance of  the  members,  licentiates  and  candidates. 

The  Fall  session  of  Presbytery,  1827,  met  at  Hopewell. 
Present :  McLin,  Berry,  Pearce,  Knight,  Campbell,  Barber 
and  Dodds.  Absent:  Ferguson  and  Porter.  Representa- 
tives, ten.  Mr.  Campbell  was  Moderator  and  Mr.  Barber 
Clerk.  At  this  meeting  Rev.  David  Foster  united  by  letter 
from  Nashville  Presbytery. 

Here  we  find  the  "free,  full  and  open  confession"  of 
Woods  M.  Hamilton  to  that  sin  that  cast  a  shadow  over  all 


40  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

his  after-life ;  and,  although  he  showed  signs  of  deep  contri- 
tion, he  was  suspended  from  exercising  any  of  the  functions 
of  the  ministry  until  the  Spring  session  of  1829.  This  la- 
mentable occurrence  was  a  severe  stroke  upon  the  Presbytery 
and  infant  denomination,  and  yet  we  scarcely  know  which  to 
admire  more — the  honesty  and  frankness  of  the  confession, 
or  the  promptness  and  unanimity  with  which  the  Presbytery 
acted  in  the  case.  It  was  one  of  those  unfortunate  mis-steps 
that  good  men  are  sometimes  betrayed  into  making.  And 
yet  Mr.  Hamilton,  in  a  great  measure — perhaps  as  much  so 
as  any  person  on  earth  could  do — outlived  the  evil  influence 
of  this  great  wrong,  and  restored  himself  to  the  complete 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him,  both  in  and  out  of  the 
Church.  It  was  my  privilege  to  have  a  personal  acquaintance 
with  Mr.  Hamilton  during  the  later  years  of  his  life.  I 
never  knew  a  more  humble,  unobtrusive,  devoted  man  than 
he.  Never  was  there  anything,  not  even  a  shadow,  upon  his 
character,  covering  over  a  long  life,  but  this  one  single  mis- 
take. He  lived  and  died  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  and 
by  none  more  than  those  who  knew  him  best.  There  were 
few,  if  any,  who  would  have  accused  him  of  this  wrong,  had 
he  not  made  it  known  by  his  own  confession.  Let,  therefore, 
the  broad  mantle  of  charity  cover  this  fault ;  and  let  him  who 
would  be  censorious  take  care  lest  he  also  be  tempted. 

Jesse  Pearce  was  appointed  Stated  Clerk  instead  of  .Woods 
M.  Hamilton.  Mr.  Abbott  was  discontinued  as  a  candidate, 
because  he  had  joined  the  "Arian  Church."  Neill  Johnson 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  Archibald  Johnson  and 
Samuel  Parr  were  received  as  candidates  for  the  ministry. 
Here  we  find  for  the  first  time  an  attempt  at  something  like  a 
•pastoral  relation  between  a  congregation  and  a  minister.  We 
quote  the  action  in  full.  All  ministerial  work,  prior  to  this, 
had  been  done  by  the  simple  "order"  of  Presbytery,  which 
was  to  ride  and  preach  so  many  months  in  such  a  "district." 
We  find  these  "districts"  increasing  as  we  advance.  There 


FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC.  4! 

were  Shoal  Creek,  Shawneetown,  Golconda,  and  Sangamon 
districts,  and  even  the  old  preachers  were  all,  up  to  this  time, 
riding  and  preaching  on  these  and  like  districts.  Messrs. 
McLin,  Berry,  Pearce  and  others  all  engaged  in  this  traveling 
work  alike  with  the  younger  men.  But  to  the  record  referred 
to  :  "Whereas,  Gilbert  Dodds,  a  member  of  this  Presbytery, 
and  William  Drennon,  a  representative  from  Sugar  Creek 
society,  have  made  known  to  this  Presbytery  that  there  is  a 
contract  existing  between  said  parties,  which  binds  the  said 
Dodds  to  spend  one-half  of  his  time  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  as  their  regular  pastor,  and  that  the  society  is  bound, 
on  her  part,  to  liberally  contribute  for  the  support  of  said 
Dodds,  during  the  existence  of  said  contract.  Resolved, 
Therefore,  that  this  Presbytery  do  hereby  approve  of  said 
contract." 

The  Spring  session  of  1828  convened  at  William  Drennon's, 
Sugar  Creek  church,  Sangamon  county,  April  8th,  1828. 
Present :  Foster,  Berry,  Pearce,  Knight,  Ferguson,  Camp- 
bell, Dodds,  Barber  and  Porter.  Absent:  McLin.  Six 
representatives  present.  Mr.  Dodds  was  chosen  Moderator, 
and  Mr.  Campbell  Clerk. 

At  this  session  Rev.  Nimrod  G.  Ferguson  was  suspended 
from  all  the  functions  of  the  ministry.  The  crime  being 
"buying,  removing  and  selling  a  person  of  color,  contrary  to 
the  laws  and  statutes  of  this  State  in  that  case  made  and  pro- 
vided." The  proof  was  "his  own  voluntary  confession." 

William  McCord,  a  licentiate  from  Anderson  Presbytery, 
was  received  by  letter  and  his  name  enrolled.  We  find  the 
following  rather  strange  question  acted  upon  by  the  Pres- 
bytery, which  had  been  referred  to  them  by  the  Synod  : 
"Whether  licentiates  and  candidates  should  have  a  seat  in 
Presbytery  and  Synod."  The  answer  was,  as  we  would  ex- 
pect :  "The  Presbytery  were  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that 
they  should  not."  Contracts  were  sanctioned  for  Rev.  John 
Porter  to  become  pastor  of  Bethel  society  for  one-half  his 


42  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

time,  and  also  between  Rev.  Thomas  Campbell  and  the 
Spring  Creek  church  for  a  like  proportion  of  his  time  as 
pastor.  Joseph  Howard  and  Andrew  Finley  were  received 
as  candidates  for  the  ministry,  and  William  Finley  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

The  Fall  session  was  held  at  Shiloh  church,  in  White 
county,  October  pth,  1828.  Present :  Berry,  Pearce, 
Campbell,  Barber,  Dodds  and  Porter.  Absent :  Foster, 
McLin  and  Knight.  Eight  representatives  present.  Mr. 
Porter  was  Moderator  and  Mr.  Dodds  Clerk.  William  Davis 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  John  Barber,  Jr.,  was 
received  as  a  candidate  from  under  the  care  of  Anderson 
Presbytery.  Daniel  Kinchalo  was  received  as  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry. 

The  Spring  session  of  1829  met  at  Bear  Creek  church, 
April  1 4th.  Present:  McLin,  Foster,  Berry,  Pearce,  Camp- 
bell and  Barber.  Absent :  Knight,  Dodds  and  Porter.  Only 
three  representatives  present.  Mr.  McLin  was  chosen 
Moderator  and  Mr.  Barber  Clerk.  An  intermediate  Presby- 
tery had  been  held  to  license  John  Barber,  Jr.,  but  Mr. 
Barber  had  conscientious  scruples,  and  it  was  not  done. 
Benjamin  Bruce,  for  intoxication,  upon  his  own  confession, 
was  suspended  from  preaching  until  the  next  Presbytery. 
Nimrod  G.  Ferguson  was  "restored"  to  the  functions  of  the 
ministry.  Marmaduke  F.  Ferguson,  a  licentiate,  obtained  a 
letter  of  dismission  and  recommendation. 

THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

Here  we  find  the-first  intimation  of  the  existence  of  the 
General  Assembly.  The  record  is  as  follows:  "David  W. 
McLin  was  appointed  a  commissioner  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly, which  is  to  be  held  in  Princeton,  Caldwell  count}', 
Kentucky,  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  May  next."  The  elder 
delegate  was  to  be  appointed  as  follows :  "Ordered  that  the 
church  sessions  of  Hope-well  and  Village  societies  appoint  an 


FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC.  43 

elder  from  one  of  said  societies  to  the  General  Assembly,  as 
mentioned  in  the  last  section." 

It  apperars  that  this  was  to  be  the  last  session  in  which  this 
noble  band  of  brethren  were  all  to  meet  together.  Cumber- 
land Synod,  at  its  last  meeting,  had  passed  an  order  for  the 
division  of  Illinois  Presbytery,  and  the  formation  of  a  new 
Presbytery  to  embrace  the  more  northern  part  of  the  State. 
It  was  to  be  called  Sangamon,  and  "John  M.  Berry,  David 
Foster,  Thomas  Campbell,  Gilbert  Dodds  and  John  Porter 
were  appointed  to  constitute  the  new  Presbytery."  It  also 
took  the  following  licentiates  under  its  jurisdiction  :  John  M. 
Cameron,  William  McCord  and  Neill  Johnson,  together  with 
Pay  ton  Mitchell  and  Archibald  Johnson,  candidates.  John 
Barber,  Jr.,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

The  Fall  session  of  1829  was  held  atWestShiloh  meeting- 
house, Jefferson  county,  August  27th.  Present:  McLin, 
Knight  and  Barber.  Absent :  Pearce  and  Ferguson.  Rep- 
resentatives two.  Mr.  Knight  was  Moderator,  and  Mr. 
Barber  Clerk.  Mr.  McLin  reported  that  he  had  attended  the 
meeting  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  that  an  elder  had  also 
gone  with  him  as  by  appointment.  Benjamin  Bruce  was 
restored  to  the  privilege  of  preaching  again.  John  Barber, 
Jr.,  Benjamin  Bruce  and  William  Davis  were  ordered  to  ride 
and  preach.  Ministers  and  church  sessions  were  directed  to 
examine  the  children  of  the  church  on  the  shorter  catechism. 
The  Spring  session  of  1830  met  at  Hopewell.  Present : 
McLin,  Pearce,  Barber  and  Knight.  Absent :  Ferguson. 
Four  representatives  present.  Mr.  Pearce  was  Moderator, 
and  Mr.  Knight  Clerk.  John  Barber  was  the  commissioner 
to  the  next  General  Assembly.  James  S.  Alexander  was  set 
apart  to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry.  The  ordination 
sermon  by  John  Barber,  Mr.  McLin  giving  the  charge,  while 
Mr.  Pearce  presided. 

The  Fall  session  of  1830  was  held  in  Madison  county,  on 
the  i4th  day  of  October,  at  the  house  of  Washington  Parki- 


44  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

son.  Present:  Pearce,  Knight  and  Barber.  Absent:  Fer- 
guson, McLin  and  Alexander.  Four  representatives  present. 
Andrew  Finley  was  discontinued  as  a  candidate. 

We  must  now,  for  a  while,  take  our  leave  of  this  old  Presby- 
tery. It  is  much  to  be  regretted,  that  up  to  this  time  we  find 
no  report  of  the  state  of  religion,  nor  table  of  statistics.  We 
cannot  tell  the  number  of  congregations,  only  as  they  are 
represented  in  the  Presbytery.  The  sessions  seem  to  have 
been  lengthy,  but  their  records  are  brief.  They  have  had  their 
drawbacks — their  dark  hours,  as  we  have  seen — and  yet  we 
can  see  they  have  made  commendable  progress.  Already  a 
swarm  has  gone  off  to  work  in  another  hive,  which  will  be  as 
vigorous  as  the  old  one  from  whence  they  came.  In  passing 
over  these  pages  we  are  impressed  with  the  following  con- 
clusions : 

First,  The  church  in  Illinois  was  planted  by  the  fathers 
of  the  church — some  of  them  from  old  Cumberland  Presby- 
tery. , 

Second,  They  were  humble,  devoted,  self-sacrificing,  poor 
men — men  who  took  delight  in  serving  God,  not  for  mere 
worldly  gain,  but  to  please  the  Master  and  advance  his 
cause.  Hundreds  of  miles  had  to  be  traversed  in  attending 
their  camp-meetings  and  the  judicatories  of  the  church,  over 
a  sparsely  settled  country,  often  with  no  roads  but  the  open 
prairies,  across  swollen  streams  which  had  neither  ferries  nor 
bridges,  and  in  a  country  regarded  as  unusually  sickly  ;  and 
at  that  period  it  was  not  misrepresented  in  this  particular. 
Often  did  they  swim  the  streams  to  get  to  their  appointments. 
Sometimes  a  canoe  or  raft  extemporized  would  bear  them  over 
the  rushing  flood,  while  their  horses  were  swimming  at  its  side. 
For  the  first  ten  years  they  had  but  a  few  church-houses, 
preaching  mostly  in  the  log  cabins  of  the  people,  and  in  the 
groves  of  timber  in  Summertime.  What  church-houses  they 
had  were  only  small  log  houses  :  a  brick  or  a  frame  building 
in  those  days  was  out  of  the  question. 


FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC.  43 

Third,  They  were  men  of  prayer — every  day,  constant 
prayer,  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  They  did  not  court 
or  expect  worldly  applause.  They  did  not  attempt  to  please 
the  people  in  their  sermons.  They  were  plain,  pointed,  un- 
varnished. They  did  not  labor  for,  or  expect  much  reward 
from  men — they  evidently  looked  for  their  reward  from 
above,  and  they  were  not  disappointed.  Here  let  me  say  a 
word  in  vindication  of  the  fathers  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  from  the  charge  often  made  against  them  for 
shunning  the  towns  and  inclining  only  to  labor  among  the 
country  people.  It  was  an  absolute  necessity  on  their  part. 
They  could  not  do  better.  Nor,  in  point  of  fact,  did  they 
shun  the  towns.  They  often  preached  in  them,  and  were 
well  received,  but  their  facilities,  at  that  day,  for  building  up 
churches  in  the  towns  were  so  slender,  that  nine  times  out  of 
ten  it  was  labor  lost  if  attempted  ;  hence  they  preferred  to  labor 
in  the  country,  where  their  congregations  could  live  without 
such  close  oversight  and  constant  care  as  a  congregation  in 
town  would  require.  As  the  denomination  has  grown  older 
and  stronger,  they  have  been  occupying  the  towns  success- 
fully for  years  past,  and  now  have  flourishing  congregations 
in  many  towns  and  smaller  cities,  and  in  a  few  of  the  great 
centers  of  influence  and  commerce.  Let  it  not  be  put  down 
as  cowardice  or  conscious  personal  weakness  on  their  part, 
that  they  did  not  rush  into  the  towns  and  labor.  What  were 
the  use  of  a  general,  with  a  mere  handful  of  men,  undertak- 
ing to  storm  Gibraltar?  He  would  show  his  folly,  not  his 
wisdom,  by  the  undertaking.  Let  him  wait  until  his  forces 
are  so  strengthened  that  he  can  successfully  make  the  assault. 
Nor  does  it  prove  anything  against  his  cause  that  he  may, 
for  the  time  being,  be  somewhat  chary  of  such  fortified 
places. 

Fourth,  It  will  appear  that  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
preachers  first  came  to  Illinois  at  the  earnest  invitation  of 
members  of  the  Church  who  had  moved  into  the  country. 


44  FIRST  PRESBYTERY,  ETC. 

Here  we  find  a  noble  example  worthy  of  imitation  by  all  those 
similarly  situated.  Instead  of  plunging  out  into  the  wilder- 
ness and  leaving  the  church  and  its  blessings  behind  them,  or 
satisfying  themselves  with  uniting  with  some  other  Church, 
these  Cumberland  Presbyterian  pioneers  carried  their  Church 
with  them,  in  their  hearts,  and  they  never  rested  until  they 
wrote  back,  and  their  earnest  pleadings  brought  the  Barnetts, 
Johnson,  McLin,  Berry  and  others  to  the  new  country  with 
the  story  of  the  cross,  which  fell  from  their  lips  with  such 
power  and  zeal,  that  soon  they  had  church  privileges  in  their 
new  homes  as  they  had  had  in  their  old  ones.  More,  they 
were  thus  the  means,  under  God,  of  the  salvation  of  thousands 
upon  thousands  of  immortal  souls,  many  of  which,  in  all 
human  probability,  never  would  have  been  saved  otherwise. 
Mr.  Paisley,  who  settled  near  Edwardsville,  is  a  noted  ex- 
ample. He  had  abundant  opportunity  to  have  gone  into  the 
"mother  Church,"  under  the  specious  plea  now  often  made, 
that  there  is  "little  difference"  between  us  ;  and,  in  so  doing, 
might  have  gone  into  comparative  obscurity.  But  he  wrote 
an  urgent  letter  to  Rev.  William  Barnett,  calling  for  help,  and 
he  gave  it  to  Rev.  Finis  Evving,  who  read  it  to  his  congrega- 
tion in  Kentucky,  and  they  made  up  the  means  on  the  spot  to 
furnish  Mr.  Barnett  ahorse  to  make  the  trip.  He  came,  and 
although  there  was  much  opposition  and  misrepresentation 
from  the  "mother  Church,"  yet  they  held  a  camp-meeting,  at 
which  at  least  one  soul  was  converted,  and  a  train  of  in- 
fluences started  which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  old 
Bear  Creek  church,  which  is  in  successful  operation  to  this 
day,  having  been  the  mother  of  not  less  than  eight  other 
tlourshing  congregations,  which  are  still  in  existence,  sus- 
taining the  means  of  grace,  having  neat  and  comfortable 
houses  of  worship,  all  out  of  debt,  and  a  membership  of  four 
to  five  hundred,  while  hundreds,  who  have  found  Christ 
here,  are  in  other  lands,  and  hundreds  more  have  gone  up  to 
join  the  church  triumphant, 


SANGAMON  PRESBYTERY. 

REV.   MR.  BERRY HIS  LABORS — FIRST    CONGREGATION  ORGAN- 
IZED IN  THE  SANGAMON  COUNTRY OLD    SUGAR 

CREEK INTERESTING  SCENE. 

WE  have  already  seen  that  Rev.  Mr.  McLin  settled  in 
White  county,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  State,  and  that 
Rev.  Mr.  Rice  settled  in  what  was  Madison,  but  now  Bond 
count}',  and  Rev.  Mr.  Berry  went  up  into  the  interior  of  the 
State  and  settled  near  Springfield,  the  present  capital.  Thus 
these  three  preachers  organized  three  nucleuses  'around  which 
churches  grew  up,  and  an  influence  for  good  spread  out  in 
all  directions.  The  first  congregation  organized  in  this  upper 
country  was,  without  much  doubt,  old  Sugar  Creek,  which  is 
still  in  working  order,  and  has  an  active,  intelligent  member- 
ship. .  Its  house  of  worship  stands  about  ten  miles  south  of 
the  city  of  Springfield,  and  about  five  miles  southeast  of 
Chatham.  It  is  in  a  rich  and  thriving  community  of  farmers. 

Just  when  Mr.  Berry  first  settled  is  unknown  to  the  writer, 
but  we  have  already  seen  that  Presbytery  has  met  twice  at 
old  Sugar  Creek,  so  that,  in  point  of  time,  its  organization 
was  but  little  behind  Hopewell  and  Bear  Creek. 

Mr.  Knight  says:  "Rev.  John  M.  Berry  occupied  the 
northern  extremity  of  our  operations  in  the  State.  He  being 
an  energetic  and  efficient  minister,  soon  had  quite  a  religious 
interest  in  that  section  of  country.  *  *  The 

Sangamon  country  was  a  very  popular  part  of  Illinois,  and 


4  SANGAMON    PRESBYTERY. 

emigrants  from  Kentucky  and  other  States  were  attracted 
there.  *  *  *  *  But  the  attractions  of  the  Sangamon 
country  not  only  drew  some  of  our  people,  but  also  some  of 
our  preachers  from  other  States.  Gilbert  Dodds  and  Thomas 
Campbell  from  Kentucky,  I  believe,  were  the  first.  They 
were  only  licentiates  when  they  came,  and  were  both  ordained 
by  Illinois  Presbytery." 

The  wisdom  of  the  selection  of  this  part  of  the  State,  by 
Mr.  Berry  and  his  compeers,  as  a  home  and  field  of  labor, 
could  not  be  called  in  question  by  any  who  have  ever  traveled 
over  it.  A  more  beautiful,  fertile  and  well-improved  country 
would  be  hard  to  find  on  the  continent.  And  it  must  be  a 
matter  of  gratitude  to  all  true  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  that 
in  this  grand  country,  where  Messrs.  Berry,  Dodds,  Camp- 
bell and  others  sowed  the  first  seeds  of  the  Church,  Cumber- 
land Presbyterians  are  strong  and  firmly  rooted,  having 
numerous  churches  well  established,  and  the  general  interests 
of  the  church  sustained,  perhaps  equal  to  any  portion  of  our 
entire  Church  territory. 

SANGAMON    PRESBYTERY. 

Having  given  a  sample  of  the  doings  of  the  first  Pres- 
bytery organized,  we  pass  on  to  introduce  to  the  reader 
to  the  organization  of  the  second  Presbytery  in  the  State. 
The  Great  Head  of  the  Church  had  so  blessed  the  labors 
of  the  fathers — Rev.  Messrs.  Berry,  Dodds,  Campbell  and 
others — that  several  societies  had  been  organized  in  San- 
gamon and  adjacent  counties,  and  several  ministers  were 
now  wholly  engaged  within  their  bounds.  The  following 
is  the  order  of  Synod  for  the  organization  of  this  Presby- 
tery: 

* 'Sangamon  Presbytery  met  agreeable  to  an  order  of 
Synod,  (old  Cumberland  Synod,)  viz:  Resolved,  That  a 
Presbytery  be  stricken  off  the  Illinois  Presbytery,  bounded 
as  follows — beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Illinos  river,  thence 


SANGAMON    PRESBYTERY.  47 

up  said  river  to  the  north  line  of  town  ten,  thence  with  said 
line  east  to  the  little  Wabash,  thence  down  said  stream  to 
the  south  line  of  town  seven,  thence  east  with  said  line  to  the 
State  line,  thence  north  so  as  to  include  all  the  bounds  north 
of  the  aforesaid  lines,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  Sangamon 
Presbytery  ;  composed  of  the  following  members,  viz  :  Rev. 
Messrs.  David  Foster,  John  M.  Berry,  Thomas  Campbell, 
Gilbert  Dodds  and  John  Porter ;  to  meet  at  the  house  of 
William  Drennon,  Sugar  Creek,  Sangamon  county,  State  of 
Illinois,  on  the  2oth  of  April,  1829,  John  M.  Berry  to  be 
Modarator,  and  in  case  of  his  failure,  Thomas  Campbell. 
"HIRAM  A.  HUNTER,  Moderator. 
" RICHARD  BEARD,  Clerk." 

This  Moderator  and  Clerk  are  both  still  living,  and  are  as 
familiar  to  Cumberland  Presbyterians  as  household  words. 
The  former  resides  in  the  city  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  the 
latter  in  Lebanon,  Tennessee.  Father  Drennon,  at  whose 
house  this  Presbytery  met,  was  still  living  a  few  years  ago, 
and  the  writer  has  more  than  once  shared  the  hospitality  of  the 
family. 

The  record  goes  on:  "Sangamon  Presbytery  was  opened 
by  a  sermon  delivered  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Berry,  from  Mark 
xvi.  15.  Constituted  by  prayer.  The  above  named  members, 
appointed  by  Synod,  were  present,  except  John  Porter,  who 
was  absent.  Elder  Joseph  Dodds,  representatives  John  Ham- 
ilton from  Bethel,  and  Samuel  Berry  from  Concord  and  Leba- 
non societies.  John  M.  Berry,  having  been  appointed  by  the 
last  Synod  first  Moderator  of  this  Presbytery,  Gilbert  Dodds 
was  chosen  Clerk.  John  M.  Cameron,  William  McCord 
and  Neill  Johnson,  licentiates,  Pay  ton  Mitchell  and  Archibald 
Johnson,  candidates,  produced  a  regular  dismission  from 
the  Illinois  Presbytery,  and  they  were  therefore  accordingly 
received.  Needham  Roach,  a  licentiate,  formerly  under  care 
of  the  Nashville  Presbytery,  produced  satisfactory  testimony, 


48  SANGAMON    PRESBYTERY. 

and  thereby  was  received  under  the  care  of  this  Presbyter)*. 
Payton  Mitchell  read  a  discourse  from  a  text  previously  as- 
signed him.  Presbytery,  after  considering  his  case,  thought 
proper  not  to  continue  him  as  a  candidate.  Thomas  Camp- 
bell was  chosen  Stated  Clerk  for  the  Presbytery.  Rev.  David 
Foster  was  appointed  the  commissioner  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly, and  furnished  with  suitable  testimonials  ;  and  in  case  of 
his  failure,  Thomas  Campbell.  The  societies  of  Concord  and 
Lebanon  were  appointed  to  furnish  an  elder  as  commissioner 
to  the  General  Assembly,  and  in  case  of  their  failure,  Sugar 
Creek  society  one.  Whereas,  Thomas  Campbell  and  the 
society  of  Spring  Creek  had  previously  entered  into  a  con- 
tract (viz. :)  that  he  was  to  preach  one-half  his  time  to  them, 
and  he  giving  satisfactory  reasons  to  the  Presbytery  for  wish- 
ing the  contract  dissolved,  the  Presbytery  did,  therefore, 
dissolve  the  contract.  Gilbert  Dodds  and  Sugar  Creek 
society  having  previously  entered  into  a  contract  (viz.:  )  that 
lie  was  to  preach  to  them  one-fourth  of  his  time,  for  which 
they  were  to  contribute  something  for  his  support,  and  they 
failing  on  their  part,  the  Presbytery  do,  therefore,  dissolve 
the  said  contract  at  his  request. 

" Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery  do  hereby  recommend  to 
the  ordained  preachers  that  they  attend  to  examinations  in  the 
different  societies  within  their  bounds,  at  least  once  a  year. 

"Whereas,  It  is  impossible  to  supply  the  numerous  calls  in 
neighborhoods  with  preaching,  from  the  cramped  circum- 
stances of  ministers  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  ;  Resol- 
ved, That  it  be  and  is  hereby  recommended  to  the  societies 
and  neighborhoods,  destitute  of  preaching  within  the  bounds 
of  Sangamon  Presbyter}',  that  they  unite  and  raise  in  each 
neighborhood  or  society,  so  destitute,  such  funds  as  they  are 
able  by  voluntary  contributions,  place  said  funds  in  the  hands 
of  a  suitable  person,  chosen  by  the  neighborhood  or  society, 
to  act  as  treasurer  for  them,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  remu- 
nerate  those  preachers  that  may  be  sent  by  Presbyter}-  to 


SANGAMON    PRESBYTERY.  49 

preach  to  them — say  $1.00  per  day.  By  this  means  the 
Presbytery  can  feel  herself  justifiable  in  sending  such  neigh- 
borhoods and  societies  as  good  supplies  as  may  be  in  her 
power.  Presbytery  adjourned  to  meet  at  Lebanon  meeting- 
house, Sangamon  county,  State  of  Illinois,  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  September  next.  Concluded  with  prayer. 

"JOHN  M.  BERRY,  Moderator. 
"GILBERT  DODDS,  Clerk." 

Thus  we  see  the  second  Presbytery  started  on  its  way. 
The  men  who  composed  it  are  all  gone  to  their  reward.  Of 
the  licentiates  present  John  M.  Cameron  and  Neill  Johnson 
only  remain,  both  quite  old,  the  former  more  than  four-score 
years.  Of  the  candidates,  Archibald  Johnson  died  in  Kansas 
a  few  years  since,  and  it  is  believed  that  Mr.  Mitchell  has 
been  dead  for  many  years. 

Of  the  ministers  who  composed  this  Presbytery,  Mr. 
Berry  and  Mr.  Dodd  are  all  with  whom  the  writer  formed 
any  acquaintance.  These  latter  continued  to  a  good  old  age 
useful  and  worthy.  Suitable  sketches  of  their  lives  will  be 
found  in  this  volume  in  the  proper  place.  The  others  had 
fallen  at  their  posts  and  had  gone  to  their  rewards  before  my 
acquaintance  in  the  State.  It  is  to  be  greatly  regretted  that 
neither  in  this  Presbytery,  nor  that  of  Illinois,  do  we  find  any 
list  of  the  churches  organized  and  under  their  care.  It  seems 
astonishing  how  such  an  important  item  was  omitted.  We 
see  from  the  record  that  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  San- 
gamon Presbytery  had  at  least  five  congregations  under  her 
care — Sugar  Creek,  Spring  Creek,  Concord,  Lebanon  and 
Bethel.  Whether  there  were  others  it  is  impossible  to  tell 
from  the  record.  All  these,  with  possibly  one  exception, 
were  in  Sangamon  county :  for  this  county,  at  this  period, 
covered  an  immense  territory.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  all 
these  societies  are  stilt  in  existence,  with' good  houses  of 
worship  and  the  regular  means  of  grace  well  sustained. 


5O  SANGAMON    PRESBYTERY. 

Thus,  in  six  years,  from  three  ministers,  we  find  the  little 
band  had  multiplied  to  nine,  and  are  divided  into  two  Pres- 
byteries. 

PRESBYTERIAL    MEETINGS. 

We  find  the  Fall  Session  of  1829  meeting  at  Lebanon, 
promptly.  All  the  members  present.  Sermon  by  Mr.  Berry. 
Neill  Johnson  was  ordered  to  prepare  for  ordination  at  the 
next  session.  After  some  other  routine  business,  adjourned 
to  meet  in  the  spring  at  Bethel  meeting-house,  in  Morgan 
county.  At  this  session  Mr.  Dodds  was  Moderator,  and  Mr. 
Campbell  Clerk. 

The  Spring  Session  of  1830,  on  account  of  the  church 
being  repaired,  was  held  at  the  house  of  Needham  Roach. 
Sermon  by  Mr.  Dodds.  Four  members  present,  one  absent. 
The  order  for  the  ordination  of  Neill  Johnson  was  extended 
until  the  next  session.  Archibald  Johnson  read  a  discourse 
from  a  text  previously  assigned  him,  which  was  not  sustained, 
but  another  text  was  assigned. 

The  Fall  Session  of  1830  met  September  2pth,  in  the  school- 
house  near  Robert  Smith's,  in  Macon  county.  Sermon  by 
Mr.  Campbell.  They  adjourned  to  meet  next  day  at  Mt. 
Zion  camp-ground  ;  and  here  we  first  find  the  name  of  Andrew 
Wilson  as  representative  from  Mt.  Zion  congregation — a 
congregation  which  still  stands  as  a  noble  monument  of  God's 
grace,  from  which  a  whole  bevy  of  congregations  have  gone 
forth,  she  being  the  fruitful  mother  of  nearly  all  the  congrega- 
tions now  comprising  Decatur  Presbytery.  Andrew  Wilson 
will  be  recognized  at  once  as  the  father  of  three  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  ministers — Rev.  T.  B.  Wilson,  D.D.,  late  of 
Marshall,  Texas ;  Rev.  James  Wilson,  who  died  while  at 
Cumberland  College  a  few  years  ago  ;  and  Rev.  A.  M.  Wil- 
son, now  of  Fredonia,  Kansas.  Mr.  Wilson,  the  father,  had 
gone  home  to  heaven  before  my  acquaintance  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, (1853,)  but  his  worthy  companion — "old  Aunt  Polly," 

• 


SANGAMON    PRESBYTERY.  5  I 

as  everybody  called  her — was  living,  and  remained  to  a  good 
old  age,  and  went  down  to  the  grave  as  full  of  honors  and  the 
love  of  the  people  as  she  was  full  of  years.  Never  have  I 
known  a  more  noble  Christian  mother  than  she.  At  this  Pres- 
bytery Neill  Johnson  was  ordained.  He  preached  his  trial 
sermon  from  I.  Peter  iii.  18.  Mr.  Campbell  preached  the 
ordination  sermon  and  Mr.  Foster  presided  and  gave  the 
charge.  At  this  session,  also,  A.  M.  Wilson  was  received 
as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry. 

The  Spring  Session  of  1831  was  held  in  the'  school- 
house  in  Concord  congregation,  April  yth.  Sermon  by  Mr. 
Campbell.  All  the  members  present  but  Mr.  Porter.  Rev. 
James  McDowell  presented  a  letter  from  Logan  Presbytery, 
and  was  thereby  received  as  a  member.  The  following 
pungent  resolution  passed  by  this  session,  we  copy  entire  : 
"Resolved^  That  this  Presbytery  require  the  punctual  attend- 
ance of  each  of  her  members  at  every  subsequent  meeting  of 
Missouri  Synod  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  ;  and 
each  delinquent  member  shall  render  his  excuse  or  excuses  at 
the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery,  and  if  his  excuse  or  excuses 
are  not  judged  providential,  he  shall  be  dealt  with  according 
'to  the  magnitude  of  his  offense,  by  rebuking  and  exhorting 
him  to  punctual  attendance  thereafter  ;  and  if  such  delinquent 
member  or  members  shall  continue  negligent  or  obstinate, 
the  Presbytery  shall  proceed  to  suspend  or  Depose  him 
or  them  as  contumacious."  From  another  resolution  we 
learn  that  there  were  nine  congregations  on  the  roll,  viz  : 
Sugar  Creek,  Bethel,  Spring  Creek,  Mackinaw,  Jacksonville, 
Mount  Zion,  Lebanon,  Mount  Pleasant  and  Rock  Creek. 
When  these  congregations  were  organized,  or  by  whom,  and 
when  they  were  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  the 
records  show  absolutely  nothing.  Illinois  Presbytery  had 
practiced  this  way,  and  the  younger  sister  seems  to  love  to 
walk  in  the  ways  of  the  older.  We  are  reminded  of  the 
story  of  the  boy  who  carried  the  stone  in  one  end  of  the 


52  SANGAMON    PRESBYTERY. 

bag  and  the  grain  in  the  other,  because  his  father  had  done 
so.  At  this  session  Archibald  Johnson  was  licensed  to 
preach. 

The  Fall  Session  of  1831  was  held  at  Stout's  Grove,  in 
McLean  county,  Sept.  6th.  Mr.  Berry  preached  the  opening 
sermon.  Isaac  Hill,  a  licentiate  formerly  under  the  care  of 
Indiana  Presbytery,  and  James  M.  Gladen,  also  a  licentirte 
from  Lebanon  Presbytery,  were  received  under  the  care  of 
this  Presbytery.  John  McCabe  was  received  as  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry.  We  find  the  following,  which  shows  very 
clearly  how  these  brethren  stood  on  these  questions:  "Or- 
dered that  each  ordained  and  licentiate  minister  of  this  Pres- 
bytery use  his  influence  to  advance  the  interest  of  Sabbath- 
Schools,  Bible,  Tract  and  Temperance  societies,  and  report 
at  the  next  Presbytery. 

We  have  followed  the  history  of  this  young  Presbytery, 
and  find  her  growing  stronger  every  session — stretching  ou.t 
her  arms  in  all  directions.  We  must  now  turn  attention  to 
the  third  Presbytery  in  the  series,  taking  them  in  the  order 
of  their  organization.  Before  leaving  this  Presbytery  we 
wish  to  say,  that  we  very  much  desired  a  more  comprehensive 
and  detailed  statement  of  its  history  under  the  pen  of  the 
Stated  Clerk,  but  failed  to  secure  it.  No  Presbytery  in  the 
State  has  had  more  useful  and  prominent  men  connected  with 
it ;  nor  has  any  one  acted  a  more  conspicuous  part  in  our 
Church  affairs  in  Illinois.  Identified  with  her  history  are  the 
names  of  Berry,  Campbell,  Porter,  Foster,  the  Johnsons, 
McDonells,  Lansden,  Reynolds,  Dodds,  Cameron,  Potter, 
Haynes,  the  Lowrances,  the  Whites,  the  Bells,  and  many  other 
noble  men,  who  would  be  ornaments  to  any  Church.  We  are 
happy  to  record  that  her  present  list  of  ministers  are  able  and 
efficient  men,  and  are  doing  a  good  work  for  Christ  and  man- 
kind. In  their  proper  place  will  be  found  sketches  of  several 
of  her  first  ministers, 


<>£•  — 


THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY  —  VANDALIA. 

THE  third  Presbytery  organized  was  Vandalia,  of  which 
the  writer  is  at  present  a  member.  It  was  formed  originally 
out  of  the  southern  part  of  Sangamon  and  the  northern  part 
of  Illinois.  To  her  territory  belongs  the  ground  where  the 
first  Presbytery  in  the  State  was  organized.  Old  Bear  Creek 
church  is  hers,  and  on  her  ground  also  lies  sleeping  the  two 
Barbers,  Foster,  the  two  Knights,  and  Father  McAdow. 

The  following  succinct  but  very  satisfactory  and  reliable 
historical  synopsis  of  this  Presbytery  has  been  prepared  by 
our  present  worthy  Stated  Clerk,  Rev.  W.  W.  M.  Barber, 
esteemed  pastor  of  the  church  at  Windsor,  111.,  which  we  are 
happy  to  give  to  our  readers,  verbatim: 

"Vandalia  Presbytery  was  constituted  by  order  of  Missouri 
Synod,  October,  1831,  while  in  session  at  New  Lebanon 
church,  Cooper  county,  Missouri.  A  resolution  was  passed, 
signed  by  Samuel  King,  as  Moderator,  and  John  R.  Browne, 
Clerk,  authorizing  the  formation  of  a  Presbytery  out  of  a 
part  of  Sangamon  and  a  part  of  Illinois  Presbyteries,  to  be 
known  as  Vandalia  Presbytery  of  the  C.  P.  Church.  The 
name  taken  from  what  was  then  the  capital  of  the  State,  and 
I  suppose  the  largest  town  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery. 
In  compliance  with  said  resolution,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in 
April,  1832,  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Joel  Knight,  in  Montgomery 
county,  Illinois,  Revs.  David  Foster,  John  Barber,  Sr.,  Joel 
Knight  and  John  Barber,  Jr.,  and  Robert  Paisley,  a  represen- 


54  THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY. 

tative  from  Bear  Creek  congregation,  met  and  constituted  the 
Presbytery,  Rev.  David  Foster  acting  as  Moderator  by  ap- 
pointment of  Synod,  who  was  also  elected  Moderator,  and 
John  Barber,  Jr.,  was  elected  Clerk,  and  he  was  also  elected 
Stated  Clerk.  John  Knight,  A.  F.  Trousdale,  Wm.  Finley, 
Joseph  Howard  and  Isaac  Hill  were  licentiates,  and  Mathew 
Gillespie,  Samuel  Parr  and  John  McKabe  were  candidates, 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  at  her  first  session. 

"There  is  no  record  of  the  congregations  at  the  first, 
nor  several  of  the  following  meetings,  so  we  are  left  with- 
out that  valuable  part  of  our  history.  The  meeting  was  then 
composed,  so  far  as  we  can  gather  from  the  records,  of  four 
ordained  mjnisters,  one  representative,  five  licentiates  and 
three  candidates.  Rev.  David  Foster  was  the  first  commis- 
sioner to  the  General  Assembly,  with  John  Barber,  Sr.,  as 
alternate,  and  William  Young,  of  New  Lebanon,  on  the  part 
of  the  eldership,  with  Mathew  Gillespie,  of  Mt.  Pisgah,  as 
alternate.  At  the  first  session,  Isaac  Baird  was  received -as  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry.  Some  resolutions  were  passed 
upon  the  subject  of  education,  thus  identifying  Vandalia 
Presbytery,  in  her  incipiency,  with  the  great  subject  of  edu- 
cation, atid  also  agreeing  to  co-operate  with  the  American 
Sunday-school  Union. 

"The  second  meeting  was  at  the  house  of  Hugh  Watson, 
Bond  county,  October,  1832.  All  the  ordained  ministers 
were  present.  There  is  no  record  showing  that  the  candi- 
dates and  licentiates  were  present,  but  during  the  business 
William  Finley,  John  Knight  and  Isaac  Hill  were  ordered  to 
prepare  for  ordination  at  next  meeting.  Vhere  were  present 
as  representatives  from  congregations :  James  Law,  Mt. 
Zion,  Michael  Walker,  Bear  Creek,  William  Young,  New 
Lebanon,  and  Henry  S.  Grove,  Big  Creek.  Since  the  consti- 
tution, this  Presbytery  has  held  (1876)  about  ninety-live 
sessions.  There  are  records  of  ninety  in  the  hands  of  the 
Stated  Clerk,  and  it  is  supposed  that  there  are  five  missing 


THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY.  55 

records.  Some  of  these  meetings  have  been  called,  or  special 
meetings.  In  the  forty-four  years  of  the  Presbytery's  ex- 
istence, there  has  been  but  two  or  three  failures  to  meet  on 
adjournment. 

"The  bounds  are  not  so  large  as  when  first  organized,  and 
I  am  not  prepared  to  give  the  boundary  lines.  Other  Presby- 
teries have  portions  of  territory  that  once  belonged  to  Vanda- 
lia.  There  were  three  candidates  under  the  care  of  Presbytery 
at  the  beginning  ;  there  have  been  fifty-seven  received  since, 
making  sixty  in  all.  The  following  named  persons  are  re- 
ported to  have  been  received  as  candidates  for  the  ministry 
since  the  first :  Isaac  Baird,  Joseph  Barlow,  James  Ashmore, 

E.  Alexander,   J.  M.  Bone,  Ministre  Jones,  Joseph  Gorden, 
John  W.  Woods,  Levi  Beals,  Edwin  Owens,  Robert  Hill,  A. 
M.  Wilson,  E.  Canaday,  A.  N.  Ashmore,  Thomas  M.  Davis, 
T.  M.  Finley,  W.  B.  Rice,  T.  K.  Hedges,  Thomas  Gwinn, 
William  Blizzard,  Jefferson  Fruit,  T.  A,  Bone,  W.  C.  Harris, 
J.  S.  Freeland,  James  M.  Wooseley,  A.  W.    Smith,   C.  G. 
Keown,  E.  R.  Rodgers,  J.  C.  Crowder,  J.  M.   Lackey,  A. 
Keown,   E.  S.  Carr,   C.   T.  Linxwiler,  W.  W.  M.  Barber, 
W.  L.  Bankson,  J.  A.  Slaughter,  J.  B.  Hunter,  W.  B.  Poland, 
Isaac    Chapman,   J.   A.   Foulks,    R.    B.    Grossman,   T.    W. 
McDavid,  D.  H.  Starkey,  A.  W.  Hawkins,  G.  F.  Berry,  S. 

F.  Minor,  A.  B.  McDavid,  Lafayette  Starkey,   Bruce  Buley 
W.  J.  McDavid,  F.  H.  Culley,  A.  C.  Biddle,  I.  N.  Petlijohn, 
R.  H.  McHenry,   G.  L.    Hunter.     Of  this  number  twenty- 
two  have  been  discontinued  as    candidates  ;  two   are  reported 
as  having  died,  viz.,  Ministre  Jones  and  E.  S.  Carr :  two  have 
been  dismissed  by  letter,  viz.,  J.  B.  Hunter,  who  entered  the 
ministry  in  the  U.  B.  Church,  and  A.  W.  Hawkins,  mission- 
ary (1876)  at  Logansport,  Indiana.     It  is  likely  that  some  of 
the  brethren  have  been  stricken  off  by  action  of  Synod  in  the 
change  of  Presbyterial  lines,  or  have  been  transferred  in  some 
other  way,  as  some  are  in  the  ministry  who  have  been  received 
as  candidates  by  Vandalia  Presbytery,  of  whom  the  records 


56  THE  THIRD  PRESBYTERY. 

give  no  account,  or  it  may  be  the  missing  records  give  the  ac- 
count. 

"There  have  been,  according  to  record,  twenty-two  licen- 
sures  performed,  and  the  reception  of  eleven  from  other 
Presbyteries  and  other  denominations.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  those  licensed  by  the  Presbytery :  Joseph  Bar- 
low, James  Ashmore,  J.  M.  Bone,  Joseph  Gorden,  John  W. 
Woods,  A.  M.  Williams,  T.  A.  Bone,  C.  G.  Keown,  E.  R. 
Rodgers,  A.  Keown,  C.  T.  Linxwiler,  W.  W.  M.  Barber,  W. 
L.  Bankson,  W  B.  Poland,  T.  W.  McDavid,  D.  H.  Starkey, 
S.  F.  Minor,  A.  B.  McDavid,  W.  J.  McDavid,  F.  H.  Culley, 
G.  L.  Hunter,  R.  H.  McHenry.  Those  received  as  licenti- 
ates:  Cyrus  Haynes,  Ben.  Smith,  T.  K.  Hedges,  S.  Y.  An- 
derson, R.  Knoll,  Geo.  O'Bannon,S.  H.  Haire,  A.  Ripetoe, 
X.  G.  McDowell,  A.  J.  Huffman,  C.  L.  McLain.  These 
all  make  thirty-three  licentiates  having  been  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery.  There  may  have  been  more,  as  the  record 
is  defective.  Of  these,  the  licensure  of  the  five  following 
named  have  been  revoked,  viz  :  A.  Keown,  S.  Y.  Anderson, 
S.  H.  Haire,  S.  F.  Minor,  A.  J.  Huffman  ;  and  the  license 
of  A.  F.  Trousdale,  after  a  long  conflict,  was  also  revoked. 
Six  licentiates  have  been  dismissed  regularly,  either  by  letter 
or  by  change  of  Presbyterial  lines,  viz  :  J.  W.  Woods,  A. 
W.  Smith,  C.  G.  Keown,  X.  G.  McDowell,  D.  H.  Starkey, 
C.  L.  McLain. 

* 'There  have  been  twenty-five  ordinations  by  the  Presby- 
tery, viz  :  John  Knight,  Wm.  Finley,  Isaac  Hill,  J.  Barlow, 
James  Ashmore,  J.  M.  Bone,  Joseph  Gorden,  C.  Haynes,  A. 
M.  Wilson,  Ben.  A-  Smith,  T.  K.  Hedges,  T.  A.  Bone,  E. 
R.  Rodgers.  R.  Knoll,  W.  W.  M.  Barker,  C.  T.  Linxwiler, 
W.  L.  Bankson,  W.  B.  Poland,  A.  Rippetoe,  Geo.  O'Ban- 
nan,  T.  W.  McDavid,  F.  H.  Culley,  A.  B.  McDavid,  Wr.  J. 
McDavid,  G.  L.  Hunter;  and  there  have  been  thirty-five 
ordained  ministers  received,  viz :  David  Campbell,  Neill 
Johnson,  Daniel  Traughber,  S.  McAdow,  (by  resolution, 


THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY  57 

October  4th,  1838,)  N.  Carper,  (colored,)  T.  W.  B.  Dawson. 
J.  S.  Freeland,  W.  T.  Hutchison,  C.  G.  Keown,  T.  H. 
Hardwick,  S.  W.  Goodnight,  J.  B.  Logan,  W.  W.  Brown, 
John  Bennet,  W.  Turner,  R.  J.  P.  Lemmon,  G.  W.  Montgom- 
ery, A.  Finley,  A.  Johnson,  W.  P.  Baker,  L.  P.  Deatherage, 
(three  times,  twice  by  letter  and  once  by  action  of  Central 
Illinois  Synod,)  C.  Y.  Hudson,  A.  F.  Hutchison,  E.  Canaday, 
J.  C.  Hamilton,  J,  R.  Brown,  D.  R.  Bell,  J.  M.  Galloway,  S. 
B.  Redman,  J.  W.  Blosser,  (twice,)  H.  Melville  J.  T.  May,  J. 
H.  Hendrick,  E.  B.  Crisman,  R.  J.  Beard;  which  number 
added  to  those  ordained  by  Presbytery,  and  the  four  original 
members,  would  make  sixty-four  ordained  ministers  who  have 
had  a  connection  with  the  Presbytery.  Of  this  number,  one 
(T.  W.  B.  Dawson)  has  been  solemnly  deposed  from  the 
ministry,  who,  I  think,  entered  the  ministry  in  the  Baptist 
denomination.  Five  have  been  dropped  from  the  roll,  viz  : 
R.  Knoll,  who  was  received  from  the  Lutheran  church  and 
returned  to  the  same  ;  Joseph  Barlow,  who  was  for  a  while 
suspended,  then  restored,  and  finally  discontinued  as  a 
minister — he  is  now  dead  ;  E.  Canaday  was  received  on  a 
letter  from  the  Rushville  Presbytery,  and  afterward  his  name 
was  dropped  from  the  roll  of  ordained  ministers,  at  his 
request — where  he  is  or  what  he  is  doing  I  do  not  know  ;  F. 
H.  Culley,  who  is  now  suspended  from  the  ministry  ;  and  S. 
B.  Redman,  having  entered  the  United  Brethren  church 
before  asking  a  dismission  from  Presbytery,  his  name  was 
1  stricken  from  the  roll.  Thirty  have  been  regularly  dismissed, 
either  by  letter  or  change  of  Presbyterial  lines.  Twelve  have 
died,  the  first  of  which  was  Rev.  David  Foster,  who  died 
and  was  buried  near  Silver  creek,  Madison  count}',  in  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  and  upon  his  tomb  is  the  following 
inscription  :  'In  memory  of  the  Rev.  David  Foster,  who  was 
born  May  4th,  1780,  joined  Presbytery  in  1804,  was  licensed 
in  1805,  was  ordained  in  1810,  and  died  May  9th,  1833,  aged 
53  years  and  5  days.  He  was  a  good  man, — Acts  xi.  2^.' 


58  THE    THIRD  PRESBYTERY. 

"On  the  I4th  of  June,  1833,  the  Presbytery  met  in  regular 
session,  and  on  the  I5th  passed  the  following  resolutions  : 

"WHEREAS,  It  has  pleased  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church 
to  remove,  by  death,  the  Rev.  David  Foster  from  the  councils 
and  labors  of  this  Presbytery  ; 

"Resolved,  That  she  feels  deeply  afflicted  at  the  loss  oc- 
casioned by  his  death. 

"Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  cherish,  with  unfeigned 
respect,  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  David  Foster ;  and 

"Resolved,  Further,  that  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presby- 
tery forward  for  publication  in  the  Revivalist  a  copy  of  the 
foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions,  together  with  an  account 
of  the  life  of  the  Rev.  David  Foster,  so  far  as  he  may  be 
able  to  collect  facts  on  that  subject. 

"The  second  minister  that  died  was  Rev.  John  Barber,  Jr., 
and  upon  the  records  of  the  Presbytery  in  October  4th,  1838, 
we  find  the  following  :  'The  Presbytery  would  desire  to  feel 
submissive  to  the  dispensation  of  divine  providence,  while 
with  strange  sensation  she  records  her  inexpressable  loss  in 
the  removal  of  one  of  her  beloved  members  by  death,  name- 
ly, Bro.  John  Barber,  Jr.,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  22d 
day  of  April,  1838.'  His  remains  are  buried  in  Madison 
county,  south  of  Edwardsville. 

"The  third  that  died  was  Rev.  N.  Carper,  (colored,)  and 
upon  the  records  of  October  2d,  1840,  we  have  this  : 

"WHEREAS,  It  has  pleased  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church 
to  remove  Bro.  Nicholas  Carper  by  death,  from  his  earthly 
labors,  Presbytery  would  hereby  express  her  high  sense  of 
the  moral  worth  of  Bro.  Carper  and  the  loss  she  has  sustained 
in  the  removal  of  such  an  esteemed  fellow-laborer. 

"The  fourth  that  died  was  old  Father  McAdow,  and  in  re- 
gard to  his  death,  we  have  the  following:  'It  has  been  the 
privilege  of  this  Presbytery,  for  a  number  of  years  past,  to 
have  the  name  of  Samuel  McAdow,  one  of  their  fathers, 
which  first  organized  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 


THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY.  59 

enrolled  among  her  ministers,  and  although  he  had  been  laid 
aside,  by  infirmity,  from  active  labors  for  a  time,  yet,  in  his 
meekness,  humility  and  other  personal  virtues,  as  also  his 
agreeable  manners,  his  instructive  counsels,  his  ardent,  unaf- 
fected piety,  had  endeared  him  to  us  all,  who  knew  him 
personally  ;  riot  only  as  one  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Church,  but 
also  a  great  support  to  the  Church'  ;  and, 

"WHEREAS,  It  has  pleased  the  sovereign  disposer  of  all 
events  to  remove  said  Father  McAdowon  the  3Othof  March, 
184^ ,  from  the  scenes  of  his  toils  and  labors  below  to  his  rest 
above,  and  as  the  name  of  McAdow  must  be  embalmed  in 
every  heart  of  all  real  Cumberland  Presbyterians — to  the 
members  of  Vandalia  Presbytery  is  that  name  particularly 
dear,  and  his  removal  is  felt  as  a  severe  loss,  and  the  chasm 
there  made  will  doubtless  continue  long  unfilled. 

"Resolved,  Therefore,  that  this  Presbytery  hereby  ex- 
presses her  high  sense  of  Father  McAdow's  real  worth,  and 
deeply  sympathizes  with  the  bereaved  friends  of  the  deceased, 
and  appoint  that  a  funeral  sermon  be  preached  on  the  oc- 
casion (to-morrow)  by  Bro.  John  Barber,  a  member  of  this 
Presbytery. 

"He  is  buried  at  Mt.  Gilead,  Bond  county,  Illinois.  The 
above  action  was  had  by  Presbytery  at  Mt.  Gilead,  April  6th, 
1844. 

"There  is  something  a  little  peculiar  in  the  reception  of 
Father  McAdow,  to  which  I  wish  to  call  attention.  The  re- 
cord is  found  in  the  minutes  of  October,  1838. 

"WHEREAS,  Father  McAdow  is  living  in  the  bounds  of 
Vandalia  Presbytery,  and  has  not,  for  a  number  of  years, 
been  noticed  on  her  records,  nor  on  any  other  records  of  the 
church  :  and, 

"WHEREAS,  It  is  truly  desirable  that  he  should  not  go  out 
of  notice,  but  that  he  should  be  kept  in  view,  so  that  his  name 
and  his  character  may  be  properly  appreciated,  and  his  death, 
when  it  shall  take  place,  duly  and  officially  recorded. 


6O  THE  THIRD    PRESBYTERY. 

"Resolved,  Therefore,  that  his  name  be  placed  on  the  re- 
cords of  this  Presbytery  as  a  member,  who  is  always  to  be 
present  or  absent  at  discretion. 

"The  fifth  minister,  belonging  to  the  Presbytery,  that  died, 
was  Rev.  T.  A.  Bone  ;  but  as  the  records  of  the  Presbytery 
are  lost  from  the  fall  of  1852  to  the  fall  of  1853— two  sessions 
missing  here — the  record  of  his  death  does  not  appear  on 
the  minutes.  He  is  buried  at  Marrowbone,  Illinois. 

"The  sixth  minister  that  died  was  Rev.  John  Barber,  Sr., 
who  died  September  ipth,  1855.  On  the  record  of  the 
Presbytery,  while  in  session  at  Union  Grove,  Bond  county, 
Illinois,  April  25th,  1856,  the  following  was  adopted: 

'•WHEREAS,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  remove  from 
our  midst,  since  the  last  session  of  the  Presbytery,  Rev.  John 
Barber,  the  oldest  and  one  of  the  most  zealous,  active,  devoted 
and  efficient  ministers  of  this  Presbytery — a  man  universally 
beloved  for  his  public  and  private  virtues,  and  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  C.  P.  Church  in  Southern  Illinois  ;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  while  we  bow  with  submission  to  this 
afflictive  dispensation  of  Divine  providence,  we  would  recog- 
nize the  warning  voice  of  God  to  be  also  ready  to  render  up 
our  account  with  joy  and  not  with  regret. 

i**- Resolved,  That  we  sincerely  lament  the  loss  of  Father 
Barber,  not  only  as  a  pastor  and  evangelist,  but  also  in  the 
councils  of  the  Church. 

''i- Resolved,  That  we  sincerely  sympathize  with  his  bereaved 
family,  numerous  friends  and  the  whole  Church  in  this  Pres- 
bytery, in  this  sad  bereavement. 

"Resolved,  That  as  a  suitable  testimony  of  our  esteem  for 
his  memory,  that  Rev.  Joel  Knight  be  requested  to  preach 
his  funeral  on  nexth  Sabbath,  at  n  o'clock,  at  this  place. 

"Resolved,  That  we  will  strive,  as  a  Presbytery,  to  emu- 
late his  high  example  in  his  self-sacriiicing  labors  to  win  souls 
to  Christ,  and  to  build  up  the  Redeemer's  kingdom — and  like 
him  endeavor  to  die  at  our  post. 


THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY  6 1 

"Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  preamble  and  resolutions 
be  presented  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  also  a  copy  be 
sent  to  the  Missouri  Cumberland  Presbyterian  for  publication. 

"He  was  buried  at  old  Bear  Creek,  Montgomery  county, 
Illinois. 

"The  seventh  minister  that  died  was  Rev.  J.  S.  Freeland, 
and  on  the  fall  minutes,  October  2Oth,  1856,  is  the  following: 

"WHEREAS,  It  has  pleased  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church 
to  call  from  his  labors  on  earth  to  his  reward  in  heaven,  our 
beloved  brother  and  fellow-laborer,  Rev.  J.  S.  Freeland, 
during  our  last  session  of  Presbytery;  therefore, 

" Resolved,  That  we  feel  greatly  afflicted  and  stricken  under 
this  sore  bereavement,  being  called  suddenly  to  part  with  one 
in  the  bloom  of  youth  and  in  the  midst  of  great  usefulness. 

"Resolved,  That  we,  as  ministers  and  people,  feel  solemnly 
admonished  by  this  dispensation  of  divine  providence,  to  live 
more  faithful  and  devoted  to  our  work,  that  we  may  be  found 
standing  at  our  post  when  the  messenger  comes. 

"Resolved,  That  we  deeply  sympathize  with  his  bereaved 
family,  his  afflicted  congregations  to  whom  he  preached,  and 
also  with  the  pupils  and  friends  of  Sullivan  Academy,  over 
which  he  has  presided  with  such  acceptance,  in  this  sudden 
bereavement. 

"Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  presented 
to  the  widow  of  the  deceased,  and  the  Missouri  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  for  publication,  and  that  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  suitable  obituary  of  the  deceased  for 
publication  in  the  church  papers. 

"He  is  buried  at  Marrowbone,  Illinois. 

"The  eighth  minister  that  died  was  Rev.  John  Knight,  and 
on  the  minutes  of  the  session  of  October  3d,  1859,  we  have 
the  following : 

"WHEREAS,  Almighty  God,  in  his  allwise  providence,  has 
removed  from  our  midst,  by  death,  since  our  last  session, 
from  his  labors  on  earth  to  his  reward  on  high,  Rev.  John 


62  THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY. 

Knight,  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  experienced  members ; 
therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Bro.  Knight,  the  Presby- 
tery has  lost  one  of  its  most  exemplary  and  devoted  members, 
a  safe  and  wise  counsellor,  and  the  Church  a  zealous,  spiritual 
and  able  minister  of  the  gospel. 

"Resolved,  That  we  will  endeavor  to  imitate  his  example 
of  humility  and  devotedness  to  the  service  of  God,  and  his 
self-sacrificing  spirit. 

"Resolved,  That  we  deeply  sympathize  with  the  aged  widow 
and  bereaved  family,  also  with  the  Union  congregation. 

"He  is  buried  in  Fayette  county,  Illinois. 

"The  ninth  minister  that  died  was  Rev.  W.  T.  Hutchison, 
and  on  the  records  of  Presbytery,  at  her  session  at  Bethalto, 
March,  1868,  we  have  the  following: 

"Resolved,  ist.  That  in  the  death  of  Bro.  Hutchison,  this 
Presbytery  has  lost  one  of  her  oldest  ministers,  one  who  was 
a  safe  counsellor  and  a  useful  preacher,  an  affectionate  father 
and  husband,  and  citizen — beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

"2d.  That  we  view,  in  this  providence  of  God,  a  loud 
warning  to  all  the  remaining  members  of  this  body,  'to  be  up 
and  doing  while  it  is  day,  for  the  time  is  at  hand  when  no 
man  can  work  longer.' 

"3d.  That  Rev.  J.  M.  Bone  be  requested  to  prepare  a 
suitable  obituary  for  publication,  embodying  the  most  promi- 
nent events  connected  with  his  life,  and  that  his  funeral  be 
preached  at  the  next  regular  session  of  this  Presbytery,  by 
some  one  appointed  by  the  Moderator. 

"4th.  That  having  been  assured  'that  his  name  is  entered 
in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life,  and  he  has  entered  into  the  full 
enjoyment  of  fellowship  of  the  saints  in  light,'  that  his 
name,  therefore,  be  discontinued  on  the  roll. 

"Rev.  Joel  Knight  preached  his  funeral  at  the  next  session 
of  the  Presbytery.  He  is  buried  at  Union  Grove,  Bond 
county,  Illinois, 


THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY.  63 

"The  tenth  and  eleventh  ministers  that  died  were  Revs.  A. 
Finley  and  W.  B.  Poland,  and  on  the  records  of  Presbytery 
while  in  session  at  Windsor,  April,  1870,  we  have  the  follow- 
ing action : 

"We  feel  that  in  the  death  of  these  brethren,  especially 
Bro.  Poland,  our  Heavenly  Father  has  sent  us  an  admonition 
that  we  should  heed  as  a  Presbytery,  'that  our  time  is  short 
and  uncertain,  and  what  we  do  in  the  great  vineyard  of  the 
Master  must  be  done  quickly;'  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  loss  of  these  beloved  ministers  this 
Presbytery  recognizes  the  voice  of  the  Great  Head  of  the 
Church,  calling  us  to  greater  diligence,  humility  and  consecra- 
tion to  our  work,  'for  the  night  cometh  when  no  man  can  work. ' 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  these,  especially  in  that 
of  Bro.  Poland,  cut  down  as  it  were  in  the  midst  of  useful- 
ness, this  Presbytery  has  lost  worthy  laborers  and  counsellors, 
and  the  congregations  to  whom  they  ministered  have  lost  suc- 
cessful under-shepherds. 

" Resolved,  That  we,  as  a  Presbytery,  do  deeply  sympathize 
with  the  bereaved  congregations  and  relatives  of  the  deceased, 
and  pray  that  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  may  overrule 
this  deep  affliction  for  the  good  of  Presbytery  and  the  glory 
of  his  name. 

"Rev.  A.  Finley  is  buried  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  W.  B. 
Poland  at  McDavid's  Point.  Both  places  are  in  Montgomery 
county,  Illinois. 

"The  twelfth  minister  that  died  was  Rev.  Joel  Knight,  and 
on  the  minutes  of  Presbytery,  in  session  March  27th,  1876, 
Sullivan,  Illinois,  we  have  the  following: 

"Rev.  Joel  Knight,  the  oldest  member  of  this  Presbytery, 
and  one  of  the  oldest  ministers,  at  his  death,  in  our  denomi- 
nation, departed  this  life  at  his  residence  in  Donnellson,  Illi- 
nois, February  2d,  1876,  wanting  20  days  of  being  80  years 
of  age. 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  departure  of  Father  Knight,  this 


64  THE  THIRD  PRESBYTERV. 

Presbytery  has  lost  a  safe  and  wise  counsellor,  his  family  a 
kind  husband  and  father,  the  country  a  worthy  citizen,  and 
the  Church  at  large  a  faithful  and  efficient  minister  of  the 
gospel  for  more  than  fifty  years. 

"Resolved  2d,  That  in  the  character  of  Father  Knight,  we 
have  an  example  of  diligence  in  the  discharge  of  duty, 
punctuality  in  all  his  engagements,  and  a  long  life  which  are 
unblemished  and  consecrated,  worthy  of  our  highest  emula- 
tion, and  is  a  treasure  left  to  the  Church  far  more  precious 
than  gold  and  rubies. 

"Resolved  jd,  That  we  deeply  sympathize  with  his  be 
reaved  wife,  children,  and  relatives,  and  the  entire  Church,  in 
this  bereavement,  and  we  will  receive  his  sudden  and  unex- 
pected departure  as  an  admonition  to  us  all,  'to  be  fathful  to 
our  vows,  and  to  stand  with  our  loins  girt  about  and  our 
lamps  burning  and  ready  for  the  coming  of  the  bridegroom.' 

"Resolved  4-th,  That  in  memory  of  the  worth  of  our  de- 
parted father  in  Israel,  his  funeral  be  preached  at  next  meeting 
of  Presbytery,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  action  be  given  to  the 
widow  of  the  deceased,  also  that  it  be  published  in  the  papers 
of  the  Church. 

"Rev.  J.  B.  Logan  preached  his  funeral.  He  is  buried 
near  Old  Union,  Montgomery  county,  Illinois. 

"There  are  nowr  sixteen  ordained  ministers  belonging  to 
the  Presbytery,  and  one  licentiate.  Of  the  congregations  I 
cannot  speak  definitely.  There  are,  according  to  my  infor- 
mation, the  names  of  fifty-three — some  names  have  been 
changed,  and  are  counted  twice.  The  following  are  the 
names:  Bear  Creek,  New  Lebanon,  Mt.  Pisgah,  Mt.  Zion, 
Big  Creek,  Mt.  Carmel,  Bethany,  Beaver  Creek,  Mt.  Gilead, 
Silver  Creek,  Smyrna,  Hickory  Creek,  South  Fork,  Good 
Prospect,  Union,  Locust  Grove,  Zion,  New  Salem,  New 
Providence,  Shiloh,  Columbia,  Goshen,  Brushy  Hill,  Antioch, 
Pleasant  Prairie,  Omphghent,  East  Fork,  Taylorville,  Sulli- 
van, Lake  Fork,  Pleasant  Grove,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Union  Grove, 


THE    THIRD    PRESBYTERY.  65 

Alton,  Hurricane,  Windsor,  McDavid's  Point,  Ml.  Tabor, 
Irving,  Maple  Grove,  Walshville,  Bethalto,  Friendship, 
Audubon,  Hillsboro,  Palmer,  Morrisonville,  Upper  Alton, 
Union,  American  Bottom,  Pleasant  Mound,  New  Hope,  Witt 
andMattoon.  Some  are  extinct,  others  are  in  the  bounds  of 
other  Presbyteries,  so  that  there  are  but  twenty-two  now  on 
the  roll." 

REFLECTIONS. 

I  will  add  a  few  words  of  my  own.  In  the  Spring  of  1854, 
I  first  visited  this  Presbytery.  It  was  then  in  session  with  old 
Bear  Creek  Church.  The  Presbytery  was  held  in  a  school- 
house,  the  old  church  being  occupied  with  preaching.  It 
was  a  frame,  with  split  boards  nailed  on  as  weather-boarding. 
It  would  seat,  perhaps,  150  persons.  This  was  nearly  as  good 
a  church-house  as  was  in  the  bounds  anywhere.  There  were 
not  more  than  five  or  six  houses  of  worship — all  of  this  qual- 
ity, or  no  better — in  the  Presbytery.  All  told  they  were  not 
worth  $10,000 — perhaps  not  the  half  of  that  sum.  There 
were  at  this  session,  the  two  Knights,  Hutchison,  Barlow, 
Barber,  Sr.,  Wilson,  J.  M.  Bone,  Hodges,  Freelin  and  Hard- 
wick.  I  was  a  visitor.  Great  harmony  prevailed.  But  I 
was  much  impressed  with  the  labor  done  and  pay  received. 
All  these  ministers  did  not  receive  $500  per  annum  for  their 
services,  and  now  that  the  field  had  been  occupied,  after  a 
fashion,  for  thirty  years,  very  little  had  been  done  of  a.  per- 
manent character.  There  was  not  a  self-sustaining  congre- 
gation in  the  Presbytery.  I  do  not  remember  that  there  was  in 
the  entire  State.  By  self-sustaining,  I  mean  one  that  sustained 
the  means  of  grace  regularly  in  their  midst.  All  these 
preachers  had  to  depend  upon  their  own  physical  or  mental 
labor,  outside  the  ministry,  for  a  part  of  their  support. 
These  were  devoted,  but  poor  men,  and  had  to  struggle 
against  fearful  difficulties  to  preach  at  all ;  but  they  preached 
on  as  best  they  could,  and  God  was  with  them.  One  reason 
why  churches  were  not  permanent,  was  the  fluctuating  nature 


66  THE    THIRD  PRESBYTERY. 

of  society.  People  were  moving  here  and  there,  and  per- 
manent no  where,  The  country,  as  already  stated,  was 
regarded  as  very  sickly,  and  many  who  came  out  from  the 
older  states,  would  get  discouraged  and  go  back,  or  move 
some  where  else.  Congregations  did  not  increase  in  num- 
bers much — indeed  it  was  hard  work  to  hold  their  own. 
These  congregations,  with  perhaps  two  exceptions,  were  all 
in  the  country.  But  a  better  day  soon  began  to  dawn  upon 
us.  Railroads  entered  and  crossed  the  state  in  all  direc- 
tions ;  enterprise  started  up  as  by  magic  everywhere  ;  leagues 
of  unimproved  lands  were  bought  up  and  became  valuable  ; 
towns  and  cities  began  to  grow  ;  where  before  had  been 
nought  but  the  howling  wilderness,  now  the  entire  country 
is  inclosed  in  cultivated  farms  or  in  pastures.  The  health  has 
greatly  improved,  society  become  settled,  and  Illinois  has  be- 
come the  great  "Prairie  State,"  only  third  in  the  Union  in 
point  of  resources,  while  our  young  Presbytery  has  lengthened 
her  cords  and  strengthened  her  stakes,  until  she  has  twenty 
good  church-houses,  twelve  of  them  being  in  towns  or  vil- 
lages, and  these  houses  are  estimated  at  $67,860  in  the 
statistical  table  of  the  General  Assembly  for  1877. 

All  these  ministers  named  are  gone  to  heaven,  except  two, 
Revs.  J.  M.  Bone  and  A.  M.  Wilson,  who  are  laboring  in  the 
State  of  Kansas.  The  churches  still  continue  to  sustain  an 
annual  drain  by  an  immense  emigration  to  the  farther  west, 
but  still  our  numbers  are  not  diminished  but  gradually  in- 
creased. The  same  table  puts  down  the  amount  paid  last 
year,  to  pastors  and  supplies,  at  $4,542 — full  nine  times  the 
amount  received  twenty-four  years  ago.  We  have  at  least 
eight  ministers  who  are  wholly  consecrated  to  their  work,  and 
follow  no  secular  calling.  The  full  statistics  will  be  found  in 
their  proper  place.  Meanwhile  we  record  this  great  advance 
with  profound  gratitude  to  God,  especially  as  this  is  the 
ground  first  largely  occupied  by  Cumberland  Presbyterians, 
and  where  the  first  Presbytery  in  the  State  was  organized. 


— *ofr — 

ORGANIZATION    OF     THE    FIRST    SYNOD. 

HAVING  given  a  brief  history  of  the  organization  of  the 
first  three  Presbyteries  in  the  State,  we  come  now  to  notice 
the  organization  of  the  first  Synod.  From  a  small  handfull 
the  Church  has  grown  and  multiplied  until  she  has  become 
a  power  in  the  land.  At  the  General  Assembly  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  May  lyth,  1832,  the  following  was  passed  : 

"jRcsolvcd,  That  a  new  Synod  be  constituted  consisting  of 
the  following  Presbyteries — Illinois,  Sangamon,  St.  Louis  and 
Vandalia,  (now  belonging  to  the  Missouri  Synod,)  to  be  called 
the  Illinois  Synod  ;  and  that  the  first  meeting  be  held  at  Mount 
Gilead  meeting-house,  Bond  county,  Illinois,  on  the  second 
Thursday  in  October,  1832,  and  that  the  Rev.  David  Foster 
be  the  first  Moderator,  and  in  case  of  his  absence,  the  Rev. 
David  McLin. 

"SAMUEL  KING,  Moderator. 

"A  copy  test:  WM.  H.  BINGHAM,  Clerk." 

The  Synod  met  according  to  this  appointment,  at  Mount 
Gilead  church.  Sermon  by  Mr.  Foster  from  Mark  xvi.  20. 
Mr.  Foster  was  elected  Moderator,  and  John  R.  Browne, 
Clerk. 

Members  present:  From  Illinois  Presbytery,  Revs.  D.  W. 
McLin  and  Jas.  S.  Alexander;  from  Sangamon  Presbytery, 
Revs.  Gilbert  Dodds,  James  McDowell  and  Thos.  Campbell ; 
from  Vandalia  Presbytery,  Revs.  David  Foster,  Joel  Knight, 
John  Barber,  Sr.,  and  John  Barber,  Jr.  ;  from  St.  Louis  Pres- 
bytery, Revs.  Frank  M,  Braly,  John  Linville,  Robert 


68  ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    FIRST    SYNOD. 

Rennick  and  John  R.  Browne.  Absentees  :  There  were  two 
from  Illinois  Presbytery,  from  Sangamon  Presbytery  three, 
from  St.  Louis  Presbytery  three. 

There  were  elders  present:  From  Illinois  Presbytery, 
Lawrrence  Rollefson  ;  from  Vandalia  Presbytery,  James  Low, 
Lewis  Kear,  James  Johnston  and  Robert  W.  Denny  ;  from 
Sangamon  Presbytery,  John  Hamilton  ;  from  St.  Louis  Pres- 
bytery, Dr.  John  Young,  Benjamin  Bennett,  James  Kincnid 
and  George  W.  Rennick. 

Ministers  thirteen,  and  elders  ten,  making  a  Synod  of 
twenty-three  in  all.  This  ought  to  shame  our  present  Synod- 
ical  meetings,  for  many  times  we  do  not  have  this  number 
now,  when  there  are_/b«r  times  the  number  of  ministers  and 
churches  to  be  represented  in  Synod.  The  report  on  the 
State  of  Religion  at  this  meeting,  was  in  substance,  that 
within  the  last  year  there  had  been  "4  congregations 
organized,  adult  baptisms  86,  infant  baptisms  102,  pro- 
fessions of  religion  443,  accessions  219.  The  temperance 
cause  and  Sunday-schools  are  prospering,  and  the  opposi- 
tion to  them  is  giving  way  among  the  people  under  your 
influence.  Harmony  and  brotherly  love  seem  to  abound 
among  your  churches  generally."  We  submit  if  that  is  not 
an  encouraging  report,  under  the  circumstances.  We  take 
great  pleasure  in  quoting,  verbatim,  the  following  action  of 
this  first  Synod.  It  shows  the  animus  of  the  people  repre- 
sented there  : 

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS . 

"Resolved,  Unanimously,  as  the  opinion  of  this  Synod, 
that  Sabbath-schools  are  an  excellent  means  for  the  religious 
instruction  and  salvation  of  the  rising  generation,  and  as 
especially  adapted  to  the  necessities  of  the  Valley  of  the 
Mississippi ;  and  further,  that  this  Synod  approve  of  the 
'American  Sunday-school  Union'  as  a  great  concentration  of 
benevolent  wisdom  and  energy  for  the  accomplishment  of  the 


ORGANIZATION   OF   THE    FIRST    SYNOD.  69 

work  of  Sabbath-schools,  and  this  Synod  hereby  recommends 
the  general  measures  of  that  Union,  while  conducted  on  the 
broad  and  liberal  principles  which  have  hitherto  distinguished 
their  progress,  to  the  ardent  prayers  and  active  co-operation 
of  the  different  churches  under  her  care." 

OTHER  BENEVOLENT    OBJECTS. 

They  further  recommended  to  the  Presbyteries  and  churches 
under  their  care,  "that  they  use  all  diligence  in  promoting  and 
encouraging  the  establishment  of  Bible,  Tract  and  Temper- 
ance societies  within  the  sphere  of  their  influence,  as  a  means 
in  the  hand  of  God,  of  christianizing,  and  as  a  consequence 
of  moralizing,  the  human  family." — Minutes  pp.  4,  5. 

Thus  we  see  how  the  denomination  stood  on  these  great 
questions,  of  the  Bible  Society,  Tract  Society,  Sunday- 
schools  and  Temperance,  when  taking  their  ecclesiastical 
position  before  the  \\Qr\Aforty  years  ago.  No  denomination 
of  Christians  in  the  land  have  been  more  uniform  and  positive 
in  their  testimony  on  these  questions  than  have  Cumberland 
Presbyterians. 

The  second  session  of  Synod  was  held  at  Pisgah  meeting- 
house, St.  Louis  county,  Missouri,  October,  lyth,  1833. 
Prior  to  this  meeting  Rev.  David  Foster,  the  Moderator,  had 
been  called  to  his  final  home.  A  sketch  of  his  life  will  be 
found  at  the  proper  place  in  this  work.  He  was  in  the  State 
about  six  years,  but  he  did  a  great  and  good  work  before  he 
fell.  Rev.  John  M.  Berry  preached  the  opening  sermon  from 
Acts  xx.  28.  Ministers  present:  John  M.  Berry,  John  Bar- 
ber, Sr.,  John  Barber,  Jr.,  Joel  Knight,  William  Finley, 
Robert  Rennick,  John  Linville,  John  R.  Browne,  Jacob 
Clark,  Frank  M.  Braly,  John  H.  Garvin.  Rev.  John  Barber, 
Sr.,  was  Moderator,  and  Frank  M  Braly,  Clerk. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  divine  approval  upon  their  work,  we 
quote  from  their  report  on  the  state  of  religion,  that  during 
the  past  year  there  had  been  in  the  bounds  of  the  Synod,  and 


7O  ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    FIRST    SYNOD. 

under  the  ministrations  of  her  ministers,  "760  conversions, 
147  adult  baptisms,  119  infant  baptisms,  accessions  to  the 
Church  324,  and  one  Presbytery  (Illinois)  did  not  report  her 
accessions  and  four  new  congregations." 

RUSHVILLE    PRESBYTERY. 

At  the  meeting  of  Synod  in  Sugar  Creek  church,  Sangamon 
county,  Illinois,  October  2ist,  1835,  we  ^n^  tne  following 
action  recorded — minutes,  pp.  16,  17  : 

"Rcsolv-ed,  That  a  Presbytery  be  stricken  off  the  Sanga- 
mon Presbytery,  to  be  composed  of  the  following  ministers, 
John  M.  Berry,  Benjamin  Conley,  James  M.  Stockton  and 
Cyrus  Haynes,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  Rushville  Pres- 
bytery— then  comes  the  boundaries,  which  we  deem  not 
important  to  insert — said  Presbytery  to  hold  its  first  meeting 
at  Rushville,  on  the  second  Thursday  in  March,  1836,  John 
M.  Berry  to  be  its  first  Moderator,  and  in  case  of  his  failure, 
Benjamin  Conley." 

At  this  meeting  of  Synod,  Rev.  Neill  Johnson  was  Moder- 
ator, and  Cyrus  Haynes  Clerk.  Thus  the  fourth  Presbytery 
comes  into  being,  and  is  started  on  its  way  to  do  good.  It  is 
scarcely  needful  to  say  that  it  is  still  in  existence,  doing  good 
work  for  the  Master  ;  being,  perhaps,  better  manned  with  able 
and  efficient  ministers,  than  at  any  former  period. 

MACKINAW  PRESBYTERY. 

Just  one  year  from  the  passage  of  the  order  originating 
Rushville  Presbytery,  we  find  the  Synod  in  session  at  Rush- 
ville, Illinois,  October  2oth,  1836,  at  which  time  and  place 
the  following  resolution  prevailed — Minutes  p.  19: 

" Resolved,  That  a  new  Presbyter}'  be  stricken  from  San- 
gamon Presbytery,  to  be  composed  of  the  following  members, 
Neill  Johnson,  James  McDowell.  James  E.  Davis  and  Archi- 
bald Johnson.  *  *  *  *  That  Neill  Johnson  be  the 
first  Moderater,  and  in  case  of  his  failure,  James  McDowell. 


ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    FIRST    SYNOD.  Jl 

Thus  the  fifth  daughter  came  into  being,  namcfcss  so  far 
as  the  record  is  concerned.  It  is  recorded  on  the  next  session 
of  the  Synod  as  Mackinaw  Presbytery,  and  its  being  not  thus 
recorded  in  the  resolution  we  suppose  to  be  an  omission  in 
the  transcribing  clerk. 

FOSTER    PRESBYTERY. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  at  Mount  Carmel  meeting- 
house, Montgomery  county,  Illinois,  October  i2th,  1837, 
Foster  Presbytery  was  originated  by  the  following  action, 
found  on  minutes,  page  22. 

"On  motion,  resolved  that  a  new  Presbytery,  to  be  known 
by  the  name  of  Foster  Presbytery,  be  stricken  off  from  Van- 
dalia  Presbytery,  to  be  constituted 

by  the  following  members,  Brothers  Isaac  Hill,  David  Camp- 
bell and  James  Ashmore  ;  and  that  Brother  William  Finley 
be  attached  to  said  Presbytery  until  such  time  as  she  shall 
have  strength  to  do  without  him ;  and  that  all  the  licentiates 
and  candidates,  in  said  bounds,  be  under  the  care  of  said 
Presbytery,  and  that  said  Presbytery  hold  its  first  session  on 
Thursday  before  the  first  Sabbath  in  April,  1838,  in  Char- 
leston, Coles  county,  Illinois:  and  that  Brother  William 
Finley  be  the  first  Moderator,  and  in  case  of  his  absence, 
Brother  Isaac  Hill." 

After  the  meeting  of  Synod  in  1834,  we  ^nc^  no  more  rc~ 
cord  of  St.  Louis  Presbytery,  and  we  presume  she  had  been 
stricken  off  by  the  action  of  the  Assembly,  in  1835,  an<^ 
joined  to  Missouri  Synod.  At  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly,  in  1838,  Sangamon  Synod  was  organized  by 
striking  off  Rushville,  Sangamon  and  Mackinaw  Presbyteries, 
leaving  Illinois,  Vandalia  and  Foster  comprising  the  Synod 
of  Illinois. 


SANGAMON    SYNOD. 

• 

THIS  was  the  second  Synod  founded  in  the  State.  The 
population,  especially  in  the  middle  and  more  northern 
counties,  had  rapidly  increased,  and  the  distance  over  which 
members  of  Synod  had  to  travel  from  the  extreme  bounds  of 
their  territory,  was  such  that  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  ask 
the  General  Assembly  to  divide  Illinois  Synod,  and  organize 
a  new  Synod  out  of  the  northern  part  of  her  territory.  The 
Stated  Clerk,  Rev.  W.  S.  Campbell,  D.D.,  has  kindly  fur- 
nished us  the  following  copy  of  the  organization  of  the  new 
Synod,  which  will  tell  its  own  story : 

"Sangamon  (alias  Mehaca)  Synod  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  met  in  Rushville,  Illinois,  October 
i8th,  1838,  agreeably  to  the  order  of  the  General  Assembly 
requiring  its  constitution.  Brother  John  M.  Berry,  being 
present,  presided.  The  Synod  was  constituted  by  prayer. 
The  following  members  were  present :  From  Sangamon 
Presbytery,  John  M.  Berry,  Thomas  Campbell,  with  his 
elder,  Richard  Matthews  ;  absent,  Gilbert  Dodds,  Benjamin 
Conley,  Abner  W.  Lansden  and  George  W.  Reynolds.  From 
Rushville  Presbyter)*,  Abner  McDowell,  with  his  elder  Mi- 
caiah  Warren  ;  Peter  Downey,  with  his  elder  Joel  Hargrove  ; 
Cyrus  Haynes,  with  his  elder  John  L.  Ewing :  absent,  Sam- 
uel B.  F.  Caldvvell  and  James  M.  Stockton.  From  Macki- 
naw Presbytery,  James  McDowell,  with  his  elder  Archy 
Bryant ;  James  E.  Davis,  with  his  elder  John  Dickey : 
absent,  Neill  Johnson,  Archibald  Johnson  and  R.  D.  Taylor. 


SANGAMON    SYNOD.  73 

Bro.  John  Berry  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Cyrus  Haymes 
Clerk. 

"On  motion,  the  Synod  proceeded  to  the  election  of  Stated 
Clerk,  whereupon  Cyrus  Haynes  was  chosen  Stated  Clerk 
of  this  Synod." 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  this  Synod  has  been  in  existence 
thirty-nine  years.  It  was  constituted  with  thirteen  members 
present,  six  of  them  elders.  It  occupies  about  the  same  ter- 
ritory still,  and  comprises  the  same  Presbyteries  she  did  then. 
There  is  no  finer  farming  country  on  the  globe,  perhaps,  than 
is  occupied  by  this  Synod.  For  ten  or  fifteen  years  after  its 
organization,  the  churches  in  this  Synod  seemed  to  gain  more 
rapidly  in  numbers  than  did  those  of  the  Synod  of  Illinois. 
But  after  the  slavery  question  began  to  be  a  constant  bone 
of  contention,  the  emigration  from  the  older  parts  of  the 
Church  ceased  almost  entirely  to  come  to  Illinois,  and  turned 
into  Missouri,  Arkansas  and  Texas.  What  did  come  into 
this  State,  lodged,  for  the  most  part,  in  the  counties  more 
southern  ;  and  the  membership,  being  yearly  decreased  by 
many  removals  and  deaths,  Sangamon  Synod  for  another 
period  of  ten  or  fifteen  years  did  not  gain  much  in  member- 
ship. But  since  the  close  of  the  war  and  the  amicable  set- 
tlement of  the  questions  connected  with  it,  and  especially 
since  the  establishment  and  successful  operation  of  Lincoln 
University,  which  is  within  the  bounds  of  this  Synod,  the 
churches  have  advanced  in  membership  and  all  the  elements 
of  progress.  Indeed,  in  the  darkest  period  of  the  Church, 
in  this  Synod,  even  when  small  progress  was  being  made  in 
additions  to  the  membership,  there  was  substantial  progress 
all  the  time,  in  building  church-houses,  neat  and  comfort- 
able. Cumberland  Presbyterians  have  church-houses  in  the 
following  towns  among  others :  Girard,  Auburn,  Lincoln, 
Atlanta,  Gibson,  Tallula,  Greenview,  Virginia,  LeRoy, 
Abingdon,  and  others  not  remembered. 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  Synod  had,  at  its  organization,  only 


74  SANGAMON    SYNOD. 

sixteen  ministers,  all  told.  All  of  these  have  gone  lo  their 
long  homes  but  two,  Rev.  Neill  Johnson,  of  McMinnville, 
Oregon,  and  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Reynolds,  of  Carrollton,  Illinois. 
These  brethren  are  both  "old  and  well  stricken  in  years," 
and  will  soon  join  their  fellow-laborers  on  the  other  happy 
shore.  This  Synod  has  now  on  its  roll  fifty -three  ordained 
ministers  and  eleven  probationers.  The  county  which  con- 
tains the  largest  number  of  churches  and  members  is 
Menard.  It  is  doubtful  whether  any  denomination  has  a 
stronger  hold  in  this  county  than  Cumberland  Presbyterians. 
In  this  Synod,  as  well  as  the  other  two,  it  is  to  be  regretted 
that  a  portion  of  the  ministry  are  almost  wholly  secularized. 
They  have  their  farms  and  cultivate  them  as  other  people  do, 
therefore  the  churches  are  not  well  trained  under  their  min- 
istry ;  and,  in  our  judgment,  never  can  be  trained  to  regular 
systematic  work,  while  the  chief  time  of  the  pastor  or  supply 
is  engaged  with  his  own  secular  affairs.  We  are  met  with  the 
oft  repeated  reply,  "that  the  churches  do  not  sustain  the  min- 
istry, and  this  secular  work  is  a  necessity'''  We  are  not  sure 
of  this.  It  was  necessity  thirty  years  ago.  but  we  do  not 
believe  there  is  any  necessity  now  for  a  secularized  ministry 
in  as  old  and  well-furnished  country  as  Illinois.  After  a 
country  gets  able  to  support  the  gospel,  for  ministers  to  keep 
on  supporting  themselves  on  the  farm,  is  like  a  man  keeping 
on  with  his  torch-light  after  the  sun  has  risen.  The  time 
is  upon  us  when  this  way  of  living  ought  not  to  be  tolerated  by 
the  Presbyteries  in  the  old  and  established  portions  of  the 
Church.  No  Church  can  advance  and  make  progress  with 
such  a  ministry,  however  talented,  and  learned,  and  able 
otherwise  they  may  be.  Their  time,  attention  and  abilities 
must  be  given  to  the  Church  and  not  to  their  farms.  A  consc- 
cratcd  ministry  is  what  we,  as  a  Church,  need  above  all  other 
things.  If  all  the  one  hundred  and  thirtv-three  ordained  min- 

O  •* 

isters,  now  in  the  State,  were  every  day  devoted  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  our  numbers  would  be  doubled  in  three  years 


SANGAMON    SYNOD.  75 

or  less,  and  perhaps  our  financial  resources  also.  The 
churches  are  much  to  blame,  we  know,  but  all  of  the  cen- 
sure does  not  belong  to  them.  There  are  ministers  among 
us  who  have  never  thrown  themselves  on  the  Church  for  a 
year  and  tested  the  matter  of  a  support.  They  really  do  not 
know  whether  they  can  be  sustained  of  the  gospel  or  not. 
But  progress  has  been  made,  even  in  this  matter,  and  we  ex- 
pect greater  advancement  still. 

DECATUR   PRESBYTERY. 

We  are  very  glad  to  submit  to  the  reader  the  following  in- 
teresting summan'  of  the  organization  and  work  of  this 
Presbytery  from  the  pen  of  the  Stated  Clerk,  Rev.  N.  M. 
Baker.  It  is  full  and  interesting,  and  will  supercede  much 
being  added  by  the  writer. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  Sangamon  Synod  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  October,  1858,  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted  : 

"WHEREAS,  Certain  ministers  and  churches  in  the  bounds 
of  Sangamon  and  Mackinaw  Presbyteries,  collectively  and 
mutually  pray  that  Sangamon  Synod  cut  off  all  that  part  of 
Sangamon  Presbytery  being  and  lying  north  and  east  of  the 
south  fork  of  Sangamon  River ;  thence  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Sangamon  River  to  the  rock  ford  of  Salt  Creek  ;  thence  with 
said  creek  to  the  third  principal  meridian ;  thence  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  Macon  county ;  thence  east  to  the  Foster 
Presbytery ;  thence  with  the  line  of  Illinois  Synod  to  the 
place  of  beginning ;  and  constitute  the  same  as  a  Presbytery 
to  be  known  as  the  Decatur  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  Therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  this  Synod  grant  the  prayer  of  said  min- 
isters and  churches,  and  that  the  ordained  ministers,  viz  :  D. 
Traughber,  J.  C.  Smith,  J.  B.  Lowrance,  G.  W.  Kinsolving 
and  John  Bennett,  together  with  all  the  licentiates,  candidates 
and  churches  under  their  care  in  said  bounds  be  and  they  are 


76  SAN  (JAM  ON    SYNOD. 

hereby  constituted  u  Presbytery,  to  be  known  as  the  Decatur 
Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  to  hold  its 
first  session  at  Mt.  Zion,  Macon  county,  111.,  on  Thursday 
next  preceding  the  second  Sabbath  in  April,  A.  D.  1859,  at 
7  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  that  Rev.  D.  Traughber  be  the  first 
Moderator,  or  in  case  of  his  absence,  that  the  Rev.  G.  W. 
Kinsolving  act  as  Moderator. 

''The  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Mt. 
Zion,  according  to  the  above  order.  All  the  ordained  minis- 
ters were  present.  The  licentiates  in  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery,  when  first  formed,  were  A.  W.  Smith,  John  R. 
Smith  and  Thomas  Montgomery.  W.  P.  Smith  was  also  re- 
ceived from  the  Methodist  Church  as  a  licentiate,  either  at 
the  first  or  second  session — the  records  do  not  show  which. 
The  candidates  were  M.  Dillow,  W.  P.  Baker  and  N.  M. 
Baker ;  and  Bro.  W.  C.  Russell  was  received  as  a  candidate 
at  the  first  session  on  a  letter  of  recommendation  from  Penn- 
sylvania Presbytery.  Since  the  organization  of  the  Pres- 
bytery it  has  never  failed  to  meet  on  its  own  adjournment 
twice  a  year.  It  has  had  one  called  session  and  two  adjourned 
sessions.  It  has  received  as  candidates  for  the  ministry  twelve 
persons — ten  by  experience,  viz  :  J.  B.  Dickey.  T.  L.  Davis, 
James  Galford,  M.  K.  Demotte,  John  Elder,  J.  N.  Shelton, 
John  Berg,  A.  K.  Bone,  James  A.  Bone,  J.  M.  Moore  ;  and 
two  by  letter,  namely,  J.  B.  Hunter  and  William  Sprouse. 
Of  these  J.  B.  Hunter,  William  Sprouse,  T.  L.  Davis  and 
John  Berg  were  discontinued,  and  James  Galford  dismissed 
by  letter. 

"There  have  been  nine  persons  licensed  to  preach,  name- 
ly, M.  Dillow,  W.  P.  Baker,  N.  M.  Baker,  W.  C.  Russell,  j. 
B.  Dickey,  M.  K.  Demotte,  J.  W.  Elder,  J.  N.  Shelton  and 
A.  K.  Bone.  Of  these,  W.  C.  Russell  was  dismissed  by 
letter,  and  J.  B.  Dickey  died  while  a  licentiate.  A.  W. 
Smith,  who  was  a  licentiate  at  the  organization,  also  died 
without  being  advanced  farther, 


SANGAMON    SYNOD.  77 

"There  have  been  nine  persons  ordained  by  the  Presby- 
tery, namely,  W.  P.  Smith,  John  R.  Smith,  Thomas  Mont- 
gomery, W.  P.  Baker,  N.  M.  Baker.  M.  Dillow,  T.  G. 
Stansberry,  M.  K.  Demotte  and  John  Elder.  T.  G.  Stans- 
berry was  a  licentiate  when  he  united  with  the  Presbytery  by 
letter. 

"There  were  live  ordained  ministers  in  the  Presbytery  at 
its  organization.  Nine  have  been  added  by  ordination,  as  we 
have  just  seen,  and  fifteen  by  letter  and  one  by  a  change  in 
Presbyterial  lines*  making  thirty  in  all,  namely,  D.  Traughber, 
J.  C.  Smith,  G.  W.  Kinsolving,  J.  B.  Lowrance,  John  Ben- 
nett (original  members),  W.  P.  Smith,  John  R.  Smith, 
Thomas  Montgomery,  W.  P.  Baker,  N.  M.  Baker,  M.  Dil- 
low, T.  G.  Stansberry,  M.  K.  Demotte,  John  Elder  (by 
ordination),  C.  Y.  Hudson  (by  a  change  in  lines),  and  by 
letter  J.  D.  Cowan,  A.  J.  McGlumphy,  William  M.  Taylor, 
J.  T.  A.  Henderson,  R.  G.  Garden,  *R.  T.  Marlow,  J.  B. 
Lowrance,  W.  L.  Bankson,  D.  R.  Bell,  James  Ashmore,  J. 
M.  Bone,  H.  W.  Bryant,  Jesse  Beals,  P.  H.  Crider  and  John 
Crisman.  Of  this  number  sixteen  have  been  dismissed  by 
letter,  viz.  :  J.  B.  Lowrance  (twice),  G.  W.  Kinsolving, 
John  Bennett,  J.  T.  A.  Henderson,  Wm.  M.  Taylor,  R.  T. 
Marlow,  Thomas  Montgomery,  W.  P.  Baker,  A.  J.  Mc- 
Glumphy, D.  R.  Bell,  James  Ashmore,  T.  G.  Stansberry, 
R.  G.  Garden,  D.  Traughber,  J.  M.  Bone,  and  H.  W. 
Bryant.  Rev.  Jesse  Beals  was  transferred  to  the  Hill  Pres- 
bytery at  its  organization.  Revs.  J.  R.  Smith,  J.  D.  Cowan, 
W.  P.  Smith  and  J.  C.  Smith  have  died,  and  M.  K.  Demotte 
has  been  deposed  for  immoral  conduct.  The  whole  number 
appears  to  be  thirty,  but  as  Rev.  J.  B.  Lowrance  appears 
both  as  an  original  member  and  as  received  by  letter,  it 
makes  the  actual  total  membership  twenty-nine.  The  pres- 
ent roll  of  the  Presbytery  is :  Ordained  ministers,  M. 
Dillow,  C.  Y.  Hudson,  W.  L.  Bankson,  P.  H.  Crider,  John 
Elder,  John  Crisman,  and  N.  M.  Baker  :  licentiates,  J.  N. 


7  SANGAMON    SYNOD. 

Shelton,  A.  K.  Bone  ;  candidates,  J.  M.  Moore  and  James  A. 
Bone. 

"There  are  eleven  organized  churches  now  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery,  viz. :  Mt.  Zion,  Bethany,  New  Hope, 
Prairie  Hall,  Shady  Grove,  Bethlehem,  Madison,  Blue 
Mound,  North  Fork,  Friends  Creek,  and  Dry  Ridge.  All 
these  congregations  have  church  houses,  except  Blue  Mound 
and  Dry  Ridge.  The  Mt.  Zion  congregation  was  organized 
by  Rev.  David  Foster  on  the  24th  of  April,  1830 ;  and  the 
first  Sabbath-school  in  Macon  county  was  organized  here  in 
1831.  The  church  now  has  about  175  members,  and  a 
Sabbath-school  of  about  70.  Bethlehem  congregation  was 
organized  in  1850  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  from  members  be- 
longing formerly  to  Mt.  Zion  and  Mt.  Carmel  congregations. 
At  present  it  numbers  about  100  members,  with  60  in 
Sabbath-school.  North  Fork  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  C. 
Smith  in  April,  1855,  with  fifty-four  members,  all  but  six  of 
whom  had  formerly  been  members  at  Mt.  Zion.  Present 
membership,  52,  with  66  in  Sabbath-school.  Pleasant  Grove 
was  organized  Oct.  16,  1870,  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Bankson. 
Present  membership,  78 ;  Sabbath-school.  40.  New  Hope 
was  organized  July  2,  1871,  by  Rev.  C.  Y.  Hudson.  Pres- 
ent membership,  117;  Sabbath-school,  40." 

EWING    PRESBYTERY. 

The  following,  from  Rev.  J.  L.  Riley,  explains  itself.  We 
are  sorry  not  to  have  secured  a  more  detailed  history  of  this 
large  and  flourishing  Presbytery. 

"Ewing  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  was  formed  by  the  action  of  the  Illinois  Synod  in  the 
Fall  of  1844.  Rev.  Jesse  Pearce  was  appointed  Moderator. 
Its  first  meeting  was  held  at  Village,  White  county,  111.,  in 
March,  1845.  Its  ministers  were  :  Revs.  Jesse  Pearce,  John 
Porter,  Richard  Harris,  John  Crawford,  Benjamin  Bruce, 
and  Moses  J.  Pearce.  Its  congregations  (several,  at  least,) 


SANGAMON    SYNOD.  79 

were  among  the  first  organized  in  the  State.  Its  probationers 
were :  J.  M.  Miller,  Thos.  Joyner,  John  Brinkley,  R.  M. 
Davis,  J.  A.  Porter,  Orison  Melvin,  A.  R.  Barlow,  etc.  E. 
B.  Pearce  and  the  writer  joined  at  this  meeting.  Revs.  Jesse 
Pearce  and  John  Crawford,  in  particular,  were  among  the 
laborious  itinerants  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  country  in 
Southern  Illinois.  The  other  four  were  a  little  more  secular- 
ized, but,  nevertheless,  did  much  faithful  work.  Five  of 
them  have  finished  their  work  and  gone  to  their  reward. 
Rev.  John  Crawford  still  lives,  and  is  able  to  do  some 
preaching  and  pastoral  work.  The  Barnetts,  McLin,  and 
their  co-laborers,  were  instrumental,  under  God,  in  introduc- 
ing Cumberlandism  in  Southern  Illinois.  Nearly  all  the  early 
preachers  in  this  part  of  the  State  were  probationers  under 
the  care  of  the  Anderson  Presbytery,  in  Kentucky,  before 
the  organization  of  the  Illinois  Presbytery.  Rev.  David 
McLin  organized  the  first  congregation  s  in  this  part  of  the 
State  in  1819.  I  think  their  order  was  as  follows  :  Hope- 
well,  White  county ;  Village,  White  county;  New  Pleasant, 
Gallatin  county ;  and  Union  Ridge,  White  county.  Village 
held  its  first  camp-meeting  in  the  fall  of  1819,  and  its  last  one 
in  1869,  making  fifty  camp-meetings  on  that  consecrated 
ground.  It  is  estimated  that  fifteen  hundred  souls  have 
embraced  religion  there  ;  and  that  not  less  than  twenty-five  to 
thirty  of  these  have  gone  out  from  that  place  to  preach  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  Christ. 

"There  are,  within  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery,  some 
thirteen  ordained  ministers,  six  or  eight  probationers,  some- 
thing over  thirty  congregations,  and  probably  a  membership 
of  fifteen  or  eighteen  hundred.  The  sentiments  and  sympa- 
thies of  the  public,  within  the  operations  of  our  people  in  this 
Presbytery,  are  strongly  with  us  ;  and  if  there  was  more  of 
the  spirit  of  consecration  and  co-operation  upon  the  part  of 
both  preachers  and  people,  our  cause  might  soon  become 
very  strong." 


8O  SANGAMON    SYNOD. 


PRESBYTERY. 

This  body  was  organized  at  the  same  time  that  Ewing 
Presbytery  was,  by  dividing  the  old  Illinois  Presbytery  into 
three.  The  action  of  Synod  was  had  in  1844.  Accordingly, 
this  Presbytery  met  on  the  first  Thursday  in  April,  1845,  at 
Monmouth  meeting-house.  Rev.  Felix  G.  Trousdale  was  to 
be  Moderator,  and,  in  case  of  his  absence,  Rev.  A.  L. 
Hamilton.  The  Presbytery  seems  to  have  been  composed  of 
the  following  ministers:  A.  L.  Hamilton,  B.  A.  Smith,  F. 
G.  Trousdale,  Woods  M.  Hamilton,  and  Wm.  Finley.  Of 
these  we  do  not  know  of  one  now  living.  Certainly  there 
are  none  of  them  living  in  the  bounds  of  this  Presbyter}-. 
All  are  gone.  This  Presbytery  has  churches  in  the  following, 
among  other  towns  :  Salem,  Flora,  Fairfield,  luka,  Albion, 
and  Kinmundy.  It  occupies  important  ground  and  has  a 
good  membership.  In  our  statistical  report  will  be  found 
further  definite  information  concerning  this  body. 

RUSHVILLE  PRESBYTERY. 

The  following  brief  sketch  has  been  kindly  furnished  us  by 
Rev.  J.  D.  Foster,  the  worthy  Stated  Clerk.  It  is  very- 
brief,  but  yet  contains  items  of  great  interest  about  some  of 
the  early  ministers  of  this  Presbytery  which  we  have  been 
able  to  acquire  nowhere  else.  While  we  could  wish  the 
sketch  was  more  nearly  complete,  yet  we  are  compelled  to 
give  it  as  the  best  we  have  been  able  to  secure. 

"Rushville  Presbytery  was  organized  March  10,  1836,  in 
the  town  of  Rushville,  Schuyler  county,  111.,  by  Revs.  John 
M.  Berry,  Benjamin  Canby,  James  M.  Stockton,  and  Cyrus 
Haynes  ;  and  elders  John  M.  Barton,  William  Travers,  and 
Micaiah  Warren.  The  principal  actors  were  John  M.  Berry, 
Cyrus  Haynes,  Abner  McDowell,  Peter  Downey,  John 
Crawford,  and  Wm.  C.  McKamy.  I  know  almost  nothing 
of  them,  having  been  a  member  of  Presbyter}-  but  a  few  years. 

"Cherry    Grove    Seminary   was    commenced    as    a    high 


SANGAMON    SYNOD.  8 1 

school  at  a  very  early  date,  I  think.-  As  early,  perhaps,  as 
1840.  Presbytery  seems  to  have  labored  continuously  to 
make  it  a  success  up  to  the  time  it  was  given  up  as  a  school, 
in  1866,  to  make  a  concentrated  effort  on  Lincoln  University. 

"As  to  missions,  there  have  been,  it  would  seem,  but  two — 
Peoria  and  Macomb — both  of  which  are  defunct.  Having 
started  on  the  down-grade  during  the  war,  they  struggled  on 
a  few  years  and  then  died  out. 

"As  to  the  old  men,  Cyrus  Haynes,  who  lived  for  a 
number  of  years  in  this  place  (Abingdon),  and  afterwards  at 
Cherry  Grove,  preached  all  over  the  Presbytery  until  the 
year  1849,  when  he  took  his  letter  and,  I  am  informed, 
located  in  Iowa.  About  the  time  of  the  war  he  was  in 
Missouri  awhile,  and  finally  died  out  there  about  the  year 
1867  or  1868.  Whatever  else  may  be  said  of  him,  no  one 
can  look  over  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  during  the  thir- 
teen years  in  which  he  was  connected  with  it,  and  not  feel 
that  he  was  an  earnest,  efficient  minister.  In  his  'report'  in 
1848,  he  says  that  he  has  traveled  on  foot  to  reach  his  ap- 
pointments about  200  miles.  Besides  being  a  preacher,  he 
was  an  able  and  successful  teacher  in  the  Seminary  for  a 
number  of  years. 

"John  M.  Berry,  I  doubt  not,  is  known  to  you  as  a  great 
preacher,  but  he  does  not  appear  to  have  continued  with  the 
Presbytery  long. 

"Abner  McDowell  seems  to  have  been  one  of  their  best 
preachers  and  most  pious  men.  He  died  in  1845.  He 
seems  to  have  lived  at  Rushville  from  about  the  time  of  the 
organization  till  his  death.  In  relation  to  his  death  the  Pres- 
bytery resolved,  that  they  had  been  bereaved  of  one  of  iheir 
most  worthy,  active,  and  much  beloved  members,  one  of 
their  wisest  counsellors,  and  one  who  had  endeared  himself 
to  them  'by  his  uniform,  upright  and  consistent  conduct,  as 
well  as  by  his  burning  zeal,  his  heavenly  mindedness,  and 
deep-toned  piety.  All  of  these  he  exhibited  not  only  by  his 


82  SAXGAMON    SYNOD. 

fervent  prayers,  his  pointed  and  glowing  exhortations,  his 
instructive,  powerful,  and  eloquent  sermons,  but  also  in  his 
daily  walk  and  common  deportment.'  This  is  the  view  that 
is  almost  universal  among  the  older  people  as  to  this  worthy 
though  somewhat  obscure  minister. 

"Peter  Downey  was  also  one  of  the  most  able,  devoted, 
and  efficient  members.  He  came  to  the  Presbytery  about 
1837  or  T838,  and  labored  continuously  and  efficiently  until 
his  death  in  the  Spring  of  1850.  The  Presbytery  says  of 
him :  |  'Bro.  Downey  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  having  a  burning'zeal  for  his  Master's  cause,  and  an 
untiring  energy  devoted  to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the 
Church  of  God.  *  Your  Committee  have  learned, 

with  great  satisfaction,  that  Bro.  Downey  died  in  the  peace 
of  God.  He  took  his  departure  to  the  home  of  the  blest  at 
the  same  house  that  your  reverend  bod}',  at  its  last  session, 
was  holding  precious  communion,  in  handling  the  broken 
body  and  shed  blood  of  the  Son  of  God.' 

"W.  S.  Campbell,  D.  D.,  joined  Presbytery  about  1844, 
was  licensed  in  1845,  and  ordained  in  1846.  He  has  never 
been  connected  with  any  other  Presbytery. 

"Rev.  W.  C.  McKamy,  now  the  oldest  member  of  Pres- 
bytery, has  been  a  member  almost  ever  since  its  organization." 


«o£> 

CENTRAL    ILLINOIS     SYNOD. 

THIS  Synod  was  composed  of  two  Presbyteries  of  Illinois 
Synod  and  one  of  Sangamon,  and  occupies  the  central  part 
of  the  State.  The  General  Assembly  of  1859,  at  Evansville, 
Ind.,  after  a  lengthy  preamble,  setting  forth  that  the  two 
Synods  occupied  such  a  large  territory  that  it  was  incon- 
venient for  the  members  to  attend,  adopted  the  following  : 

^'Resolved,  That  the  Presbyteries  of  Decatur,  Vandalia, 
and  Foster,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  constituted  a  Synod,  to 
be  known  as  Central  Illinois  Synod ;  that  it  hold  its  first 
session  in  the  town  of  Sullivan,  Moultrie  county,  111.,  on 
Thursday,  at  n  o'clock,  A.  M.,  before  the  third  Sabbath  in 
October,  1859  '•>  an(^  tnat  RCV-  J-  B.  Logan  be  the  first 
Moderator,  and,  in  case  of  his  absence,  Rev.  Daniel 
Traughber." 

We  regret  to  say  that  the  records  of  this  and  several  sub- 
sequent sessions  of  Synod  were  destroyed  in  a  fire,  which 
consumed  the  residence  of  the  Stated  Clerk  some  years  since. 
The  writer  remembers  distinctly  that  the  Synod  met,  accord- 
ing to  appointment,  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church 
at  Sullivan.  The  opening  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
appointed  Moderator,  who  presided  until  the  Synod  was 
organized  by  the  election  of  Rev.  Daniel  Traughber  as 
Moderator.  The  name  of  the  temporary  Clerk  is  forgotten, 
but  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith  was  elected  Stated  Clerk.  This 


84  CKNTRAL    ILLINOIS    SYNOD. 

Synod,  although  the  youngest  in  the  State,  has  never  failed 
to  meet  and  have  a  quorum  for  business. 

In  1875  tne  Foster  Presbytery  was  divided,  and  the  South- 
ern portion,  with  certain  congregations  and  ministers,  was 
henceforth  to  be  called  the  Hill  Presbytery,  in  honor  of  Rev. 
Isaac  Hill,  one  of  the  first  and  most  useful  of  our  ministers. 
The  St.  Louis  &  Indianapolis  railroad  is  the  dividing  line 
between  Foster  and  Hill  Presbyteries.  The  latter  Presbytery 
is  weak,  but  occupies  an  important  country  and  is  making 
progress.  The  Church  all  over  this  Synod  is  in  a  good, 
healthy  state,  with  some  local  exceptions.  Revs.  J.  W. 
Woods,  Jesse  Beals,  Thomas  Bailiff,  S.  W.  Goodknight,  J. 
Groves,  R.  C.  Hill,  Samuel  Landrous,  and  Barnabas  Lyman 
comprise  Hill  Presbytery.  Licentiate,  David  Hall.  Many 
of  the  old  members  of  the  Synod  have  finished  their  course 
and  gone  home,  others  have  moved  away,  and  but  few  of 
those  remain  who  bore  the  burdens  and  heat  of  the  day  in 
planting  our  standards  in  this  country.  Of  those  who 
remain,  we  mention  with  a  just  pride  Rev.  James  Ashmore. 
Few  men  in  the  Church,  taking  into  the  account  his  oppor- 
tunities, have  done  more  to  win  souls  to  Jesus  and  build  up 
the  Church  than  has  this  old  veteran  of  the  cross.  He  still 
enjoys  good  health,  although  age  and  infirmities  are  gradually 
creeping  upon  him.  He  preaches  Christ  still  with  much  of 
his  youthful  vim  and  energy,  and  with  good  success.  Over 
a  large  portion  of  this  Synod  the  names  of  Ashmore,  Knight, 
and  Traughber  are  household  words  in  the  churches.  Knight 
and  Traughber  have  gone  home,  and  Ashmore  alone  of  the 
three  remains  in  his  old  territory,  to  preach  the  gospel  to 
dying  men.  Long  may  he  yet  be  spared  to  blow  the  gospel 
trumpet !  A  brief  sketch  of  these  worthy  brethren  will  be 
found  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

Central  Illinois  Svnod,  from  her  organization,  took  bold 
ground  in  favor  of  all  the  enterprises  of  the  Church,  and 
expressed  an  unequivocal  sympathy  with  all  the  great  moral 


CENTRAL    ILLINOIS    SYNOD.  85 

movements  of  the  country  and  age.  The  writer  believes 
that  no  part  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
proportion  to  numbers  and  ability,  has  done,  or  is  now  doing, 
more  for  missions,  education,  Sabbath-schools,  &c.,  than  the 
membership  of  this  Synod.  They  are  ever  ready  to  respond 
to  any  department  of  the  work  of  the  Church,  when  convinced 
that  the  work  proposed  is  of  God  and  promises  success. 
They  are  harmonious  in  their  plans  and  work,  and  occupy 
an  important  portion  of  the  State  running  across  its  entire 
territory,  from  the  Wabash  to  the  Mississippi  river. 

The  following  are  the.  statistics  of  tftis  Synod,  as  reported 
at  its  session  in  Georgetown,  Vermillion  county,  Oct.,  1877  : 
Ministers,  43  ;  licentiates,  5  ;  congregations,  62  ;  elders,  203  ; 
deacons,  67  ;  additions  for  the  year,  525  ;  communicants, 
3,706;  persons  in  Sabbath-school,  2,734;  total  contributions 
for  the  year,  $17,161  ;  value  of  church  property,  $127,160. 
This  is  evidently  under,  rather  than  over,  the  true  figures. 

Since  its  organization  in  1859  tne  Church  in  this  Synod 
has  more  than  doubled  the  value  of  its  church  property,  and 
largely  increased  the  membership,  while  it  is  no  exaggeration 
to  say  that  thousands  of  the  membership  have  emigrated  to 
other  countries.  Their  places  could  only  be  filled  by  new 
recruits  from  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  there  being  but  com- 
paratively little  emigration  of  membership  from  other  parts 
to  this  portion  of  Illinois.  Churches  are  found  in  the  cities 
of  Mattoon,  Alton,  Fairmount,  Georgetown,  Taylorville,  and 
many  other  towns  and  villages,  and  the  membership  will 
compare  favorably  in  point  of  intelligence  and  enterprise  with 
any  people  in  the  West.  In  the  bounds  of  the  Synod  there 
are  fifty-four  houses  of  worship,  neat  and  comfortable,  and 
but  few  of  them  embarrassed  bv  debt. 


SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF    THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES  IN  THE  STATE 
MT.  PISGAH  CONGREGATION,    FOSTER  PRESBYTERY. 

The  following  is  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  H.  J.  VanDuyn : 
"This  congregation  was  organized  by  Rev.  James  Ash- 
more  in  the  house  of  Alexander  McDonald,  three  and 
one-half  miles  south-west  of  Georgetown,  111.,  March  ist, 
1840.  The  first  ruling  elders  were  Richard  Swank,  Alex. 
McDonald,  and  Charles  Canaday.  The  two  former  have 
passed  from  labor  to  reward  ;  the  latter  is  now  a  ruling  elder 
in  Georgetown  congregation 

"For  a  period  of  about  two  years  this  congregation  had  no 
regular  place  of  worship.  They  met  in  each  other's  houses 
and  in  school  houses  (though  these  were  extremely  scarce) 
as  opportunity  afforded.  The  good  Lord  often  met  with 
them,  and  many  seasons  of  refreshing  from  his  presence  did 
they  enjoy.  In  the  Summer  or  Fall  of  1842  they  built 
themselves  a  house  of  worship  on  what  was  then  known  as 
the  old  'camp-ground,'  located  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  McDonald 
near  where  the  church  was  organized.  This  was  a  hewn 
log  structure,  and  served  admirably  the  purpose  for  which 
it  was  designed.  In  it  they  had  many  precious  revivals,  and 
the  Lord  added  to  their  numbers  many,  very  many  such  as 
should  be  saved.  The  good  results  of  the  efforts  here  put 
forth  by  that  devoted  band  of  faithful  workers  are  being  felt 
and  seen  by  the  present  rising  generation,  and  doubtless  will 


SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES.      87 

be  felt  and  seen  by  many  who  are  yet  unborn.  But  time 
only  reveals,  as  it  were,  the  shadow.  Eternity  alone  can 
and  will  sever  the  veil,  and  reveal  all  the  good  done  here. 
They  continued  to  occupy  this  house  until  the  Summer  of 
1854,  when  they  built  themselves  a  new  and,  for  that  day, 
very  commodious  frame  house,  two  miles  west  of  George- 
town, on  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  in  the  State  of 
Illinois.  This  house  was  considered  a  great  credit  to  the 
congregation  and  to  the  community  at  large.  The  site  was 
the  gift  of  ruling  elders  R.  Swank  and  L.  Long.  The 
congregation  worshiped  here,  'beneath  their  own  vine  and 
fig  tree,'  through  various  degrees  of  prosperity  and  adversity, 
until  the  Summer  of  1876,  when  the  old  house,  that  had 
served  so  good  a  purpose  for  twenty-two  years,  needing 
repairs,  it  was  decided  to  tear  it  down,  build  a  new  one  on 
the  same  site,  and  call  it  by  the  same  name.  The  new 
house  is  a  beautiful  edifice  built  in  modern  style,  and  speaks 
well  for  our  cause  and  people  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

"The  following  ministers  have  furnished  them  with  'the 
word'  from  the  date  of  organization  to  the  present  time : 
Rev.  James  Ashmore,  from  organization  until  March  8,  1869, 
a  period  of  29  years;  Rev.  W.  O.  Smith,  from  March  10, 
1869,  until  April  10,  1870 ;  Rev.  G.  W.  Jordan,  from  April 
24,  1870,  until  Nov.  8,  1870;  Rev.  W.  O.  Smith  again, 
from  Dec.  4,  1870,  until  Oct.  22,  1871.  By  order  of  Presby- 
tery Rev.  James  Ashmore  took  charge  again  Oct.  24,  1871, 
and  continued  one  year,  making  in  all  30  years  that  he  had 
preached  to  this  congregation.  Rev.  H.  H.  Ashmore,  a  son 
of  James  Ashmore,  now  took  charge,  and  continued  until 
April  i,  1876.  A  part  of  the  time  he  had  associated  with 
him  Rev.  Thomas  Whitlock.  Since  April  i,  1876,  your 
humble  servant  has  had  charge  of  the  congregation,  and  is 
now  their  pastor. 

"Names  of  elders  since  organization  :  L.  Long,  Emanuel 
Snider,  Samuel  Hinton,  Richard  Swank,  Jr.,  J.  S.  Long, 


88      SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES. 

(now  a  licensed  preacher),  J.  G.  Thompson,  and  John  L. 
Jones  (who  was  licensed  to  preach,  but  died  during  the 
war).  The  first  three  of  the  above  are  the  present 
incumbents." 

OLD    BEAR    CREEK    CHURCH. 

Rev.  E.  M.  Johnson  has  kindly  furnished  the  following 
sketch  of  this  organization  : 

"In  the  month  of  February  or  March,  a  few  families  from 
the  Church  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  agreed  to  associate 
themselves  together,  with  a  view  to  the  organization  of  a 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  at  some  future  time.  This 
was  in  response  to  a  proposition  made  by  Mr.  Rice,  and 
took  place  at  the  house  of  Mr.  William  Robertson,  a 
Presbyterian,  who  lived  about  one  and  one-half 
miles  north  of  Greenville,  Bond  county.  These  are  the 
the  names :  Robert  Paisley,  Elizabeth  Paisley,  Jonathan 
Berry,  Polly  Berry,  William  and  Phenly  Young.  The  date 
of  the  permanent  organization  is  not  given  in  the  old  church 
book,  but  the  name,  Bear  Creek,  was  given  to  the  church  at 
the  organization  or  constitution  of  the  first  Presbytery  in  the 
State,  which  took  place  at  the  house  of  John  Kirkpatrick  in 
Montgomery  county,  May,  1823. 

"The  first  elders  were  Robert  Paisley,  Jonathan  Berry 
and  John  Kirkpatrick.  Mr.  Paisley  was  from  a  church  in 
Christian  county,  Ky.  ;  Mr.  Berry  from  Giles  county,  and 
Mr.  Kirkpatrick  from  Sugg's  creek  congregation,  Williamson 
county,  Tenn.  Joseph  McAdams  was  ordained  ruling  elder 
in  this  congregation  in  the  fall  of  1822 — the  first  elder 
ordained  in  the  congregation.  June  21,  1828,  R.  W.  Denny 
and  Michael  H.  Walker,  and  May  9,  1830,  Thomas  Johnson, 
were  ordained.  The  present  board  of  elders  is  five  in 
number.  In  all,  this  church  has  had  twenty-live  ruling 
elders  up  to  July,  1877. 

"This  church  has  had   many   acting  deacons,    but  it  has 


SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES.      89 

never  had  but  five   ordained  deacons.     Four  of  these   are 
now  acting;  the  other  (an  old  man)  is  not. 

"The  church  has  now  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  mem- 
bers. Green  P.  Rice  had  charge  of  this  church  four  years  ; 
Joel  Knight  for  an  unknown  but  a  long  time  ;  John  Barber 
supplied  it  frequently  and  for  a  long  time  ;  A.  M.  Wilson 
one  year ;  Joseph  Gordon  one  year :  T.  K.  Hedges  one 
year;  J.  M.  Bone  fourteen  years  ;  B.  H.  Blackwell  nearly 
one  year ;  J.  W.  Blosser  nearly  six  months  ;  D.  R.  Bell  one 
year,  E.  R.  Rodgers  a  short  time;  J.  H.  Hendrick  nearly 
two  years  ;  and  the  writer  has  been  here  nearly  one  year. 
Some  of  the  most  influential  churches  in  this  country  am 
off-shoots  of  this  congregation.  We  mention  Maple  Grove, 
McDavid's  Point,  Pleasant  Prairie,  Goshen,  and  many 
others.  Many  churches  in  the  far  West  have  found  that 
their  best  workers  were  from  the  membership  of  this  church." 

BETHANY     CONGREGATION. 

This  interesting  sketch  was  kindly  furnished  by  ruling 
elder  J.  F.  Knight: 

"In  the  year  1828  Bro.  Andrew  M.  Bone,  the  father  of 
Rev.  J.  M.  Bone,  settled  near  Shelbyville,  Shelby  county, 
111.  Shelbyville  at  that  time  had  but  one  log  cabin  for  a 
store  house.  Rev.  David  Foster,  having  heard  of  his  having 
settled  here,  visited  him,  and  preached  in  Shelbyville  for  the 
people.  It  is  supposed  this  was  the  first  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian sermon  ever  preached  in  all  this  country.  Father 
Andrew  Bone,  having  only  stopped  at  Shelbyville  for  a  short 
time,  moved  to  what  is  now  Moultrie  county,  111.,  in  1829. 
Rev.  David  Foster  then  lived  near  Decatur,  111.,  and  father 
Bone  sent  for  him  to  come  to  his  neighborhood  and  preach 
for  the  people.  There  were  no  mails  in  this  part  of  the 
country  then  ;  hence,  when  friend  wanted  to  see  friend,  or 
ask  for  favors,  they  had  to  go  in  person,  or  send,  to  make 
known  their  wishes.  Out  of  father  Bone's  and  Rev.  Foster's 


90      SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES. 

labors  grew  what  is  now  known  as  Bethany  congregation  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  Moultrie  county,  111. 
There  is  but  one  of  the  original  members  of  this  congregation 
now  living,  sister  Emaline  Ashmore,  who  is  waiting  patiently 
to  pass  over  to  the  promised  inheritance. 

"This  church  was  organized  out  of  three  families,  Bone, 
Kennedy,  and  Lansden,  in  the  fall  of  1832.  These  families 
concluded  to  have  a  camp-meeting.  It  was  a  new  thing,  and 
those  who  were  members  of  the  church  and  those  who  were 
not  were  interested  in  the  matter,  and  all  turned  out  to  make 
preparation  for  the  meeting.  Some  one  wanted  to  know  who 
would  keep  a  boarding  camp.  One  good  old  brother  told 
the  man  that  everybody  who  came  to  meeting  would  be 
taken  care  of  without  pay.  The  camp-meeting  came  on, 
with  only  one  minister,  and  that  was  Bro.  Foster.  The  Lord 
blessed  his  and  the  few  brethren's  labor,  and  nearly  ever}' 
body  in  the  country  professed  religion.  After  this  a  church 
grew  into  being,  as  stated  above.  After  the  church  was 
organized,  father  Bone  said  he  had  been  praying  for  the 
Lord  to  send  a  few  good  people  into  the  country,  that  he 
and  his  family  might  have  the  benefit  of .  church  privileges  ; 
but  the  Lord  knew  better  how  to  make  a  church  than  he 
did,  for  he  had  now  taken  the  material  already  at  hand,  and 
made  a  church  for  him. 

"In  the  Fall  of  1830  Thomas  D.  Lansden,  an  elder  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  came  from  Tennessee, 
and  settled  in  the  bounds  of  this  congregation  ;  and  he,  in 
connection  with  other  lovers  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  was  deter- 
mined that  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer  should  go  forward. 
Lansden,  Bone  and  Kennedy  were  the  first  elders  of  Bethany 
congregation.  Camp-meetings  were  held  annually  every 
Fall  until  the  Fall  of  i8Co,  as  nearly  as  is  remembered.  On 
one  occasion,  in  an  early  day  when  the  brethren  were  clear- 
ing the  ground  for  a  camp-meeting,  a  dear  sinner,  about 
seventy  years  old,  was  seen  with  his  implements  preparing  a 


SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES.      9! 

place  for  a  camp  also.  One  brother  says  to  another,  'Do 
you  see  that  old  sinner  preparing  to  camp,  too?  The  Lord 
will  pay  him.'  So  he  did  ;  for  he  sought  the  Lord  and 
found  him  precious  to  his  soul  that  very  meeting. 

"It  was  not  uncommon  for  persons  to  separate  in  small 
companies  in  the  morning  and  evening,  and  go  to  the  woods 
for  prayer  ;  and  not  unfrequently  songs  and  praises  to  God 
could  be  heard  in  every  direction  around  the  camp-ground. 
Some  rejoiced  on  account  of  having  just  been  born  again, 
and  others  over  the  great  deliverance.  Thus  it  is  that  they 
that  sow  to  the  Spirit  shall  of  the  Spirit  reap  life  everlasting. 
At  one  of  those  early  camp-meetings  every  sinner  on  the 
ground  professed  religion,  except  one,  and  he  left  the  ground. 
It  is  true,  however,  that  the  people  were  not  so  numerous  as 
at  present,  but  there  were  enough  to  hold  a  camp-meeting. 

"In  the  year  1838  the  brethren  said  they  must  have  a  church 
house.  So  they  met  and  decided  what  kind  of  a  house  they 
would  have,  and,  when  they  had  decided,  they  started  to  the 
woods  with  axes,  broad-axes,  and  prongs,  to  get  out  logs  and 
boards  for  the  erection  of  a  church.  The  church  was  built 
with  a  door  in  the  east,  and  a  plain  pulpit  in  the  west  end, 
and  a  small  window  at  the  back  of  the  pulpit.  The  people 
had  no  stoves  in  those  days,  but  the  church  must  have  fire  in 
Winter;  so  the  brethren  made  what  old  fogies  call  hearths. 
There  were  two,  about  four  feet  square,  on  which  they 
placed  charcoal  and  put  fire  to  it.  A  fire  made  of  this 
material  does  not  create  much  smoke,  but  what  was  created 
went  where  it  pleased.  This  house,  with  some  improvement, 
remained  for  a  church  until  1856,  when  the  church  now 
standing  was  built.  Father  Robert  Crowder,  who  is  a  mem- 
ber of  our  church,  and,  at  that  time,  was  an  elder,  took  the 
contract  for  building  it  at  a  cost  of  $2,100,  and  waited  kindly 
on  the  church  until  paid,  he  and  his  sons  giving  liberally  for 
its. completion.  By  the  grace  of  God  we  are  a  self-made 
people,  never  having  had  a  collection  made  for  us  from 


9-  SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES. 

abroad.  God.  having  been  so  good  and  so  kind  to  us,  has 
enabled  us  to  give  thousands  of  dollars  to  build  up  Christ's 
kingdom  in  other  localities. 

••The  preachers  who  officiated  in  building  up  the  cause  of 
Christ  in  this  country  were  as  follows :  The  two  Barbers 
(father  John  Barber  and  his  son  John),  the  two  Bones,  the 
two  Knights.  Daniel  Traughber.  Mr.  Wilson,  and  others,  the 
most  of  whom  have  gone  to  their  reward  in  heaven.  In  the 
year  1832  young  Barber  came  and  organized  a  Sunday- 
school,  and  there  has  been  one  in  operation  ever  since.  The 
number  of  ministers  gone  out  from  this  congregation  is  four : 
Revs.  J.  M.  Bone,  Thomas  Bone  (dead),  Wm.  Bankson, 
and  James  Freeland.  Bro.  Freeland  was  a  graduate  of  Leb- 
anon University.  Tenn." 

MT.  ziox. 

Rev.  P.  H.  Crider  furnishes  this  sketch  of  Mt.  Zion  con- 
gregation: 

••Mt.  Zion  congregation.  Macon  county.  111.,  was  first 
organized  by  Rev.  David  Foster  at  his  own  private  dwelling 
about  three  miles  from  Mt.  Zion.  The  organization  took 
place  on  the  24th  day  of  April,  1830,  and  soon  was  taken 
under  the  care  of  Sangamon  Presbyter}-.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  the  charter  members :  Andrew  Wilson,  Mary 
Ann  Wilson,  Alexander  Wilson,  Nancy  Wilson,  Catherine 
Wilson,  Allen  Travis,  Margaret  Travis,  Alexander  W.  Bell. 
Nancy  Jane  Bell,  James  D.  Campbell,  Lavina  Campbell. 
Andrew  Davidson,  Assenath  R.  Davidson,  John  Davidson, 
Rhoda  Davidson,  Samuel  Davidson,  Elizabeth  Davidson, 
Nancy  Davidson.  Ellen  Davidson  Black.  John  Smith,  Marga- 
ret Smith,  Rebecca  Travis,  David  Davis,  Polly  M.  Davis, 
Wm.  D.  Baker,  Marilla  Baker,  Robert  Smith.  Nancy  Smith 
<  Traughber),  David  Foster.  Anna  Foster,  Robert  Foster. 
Margaret  Foster.  Wm.  C.  Foster,  Isabella  Foster.  Nancy 
Allen  Foster.  Thirty-six  names  were  taken  at  the  organiza- 


SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES.      93 

don,  April  24,  1830.  On  the  1510  day  of  June,  1830,  the 
enrolled  members  met  at  the  house  of  Rev.  David  Foster, 
and  selected  the  following  brethren  as  ruling  elders  of  the 
congregation  :  Andrew  Wilson,  Allen  Travis,  Robert  Smith 
and  Samuel  Davidson.  On  the  3Oth  of  April,  1831.  Mr. 
James  Scott  was  chosen  ruling  elder.  In  October,  1832. 
Mr.  James  Law  became  a  ruling  elder.  At  about  the  same 
time  John  Smith  became  a  ruling  elder  of  this  congregation. 
In  June.  1833.  Mr.  William  M.  Young  was  chosen  ruling 
elder. 

••After  the  death  of  Rev.  David  Foster,  in  May,  1833,  ^e 
congregation  was  without  a  pastor  or  supply  for  more  than  a 
year.  During  this  time  the  congregation  declined  in  spiritu- 
ality, which  resulted  in  neglecting  the  Sabbath-school  and 
the  means  of  grace.  After  this  the  labors  of  Rev.  Xeill 
Johnson  were  secured,  who  preached  for  the  congregation 
for  one  year  and  six  months.  The  congregation  was  then 
without  regular  preaching  until  the  last  of  November,  1836. 
when  Rev.  Daniel  Traughber,  of  Kentucky  Presbytery,  set- 
tled in  the  community  and  supplied  the  congregation  with 
preaching  at  the  request  of  the  session.  In  June,  1837,  he 
joined  Vandalia  Presbytery,  and  was  appointed  to  supply 
Mt.  Zion  congregation,  which  had.  at  that  time,  one  hundred 
and  eight  members.  The  session  met  March  27th,  1856,  for 
the  purpose  of  properly  arranging  their  congregational 
records,  as  two  new  congregations  had  been  stricken  off 
from  the  membership  of  Mt.  Zion  congregation,  Bethlehem 
and  North  Fork.  In  fact,  about  all  the  congregations  in  the 
bounds  of  Decatur  Presbytery  have  had  their  origin  from  the 
old  Mt.  Zion  congregation.  This  is  one  of  the  places  where 
camp-meetings  were  kept  up  for  manv  vears.  and  the  results 
can  never  be  fully  known  until  the  revelation  of  all  things  at 
the  last  day.  Thousands  will  rise  up  in  that  day  and  testify 
that  they  were  born  again  at  the  consecrated  altar  of  old 
Mt.  Zion.  This  has  been  a  prolific  fountain,  from  whence 


94  SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES. 

a  stream  of  Christian  influence  has  gone  out  in  every  direc- 
tion. Her  sons  and  daughters  are  not  confined  to  the  limits 
of  this  Presbytery,  but  many  of  them  have  gone  to  Missouri, 
Kansas,  and  other  States,  and  are  at  work  in  the  Master's 
cause.  But  the  greater  number  of  those  who  have  been 
begotten  in  the  gospel  at  this  place  have  finished  their  work 
on  earth,  and  have  gone  to  our  Father's  house  in  heaven. 
Such  brethren  as  the  Smiths,  Davidson,  Wilson,  and  many 
others,  toiled  long  and  hard  at  Mt.  Zion,  and  at  last  died  at 
their  post.  Many  other  good  brethren  and  sisters  are  linger- 
ing on  the  same  ground,  and,  having  been  'faithful  over  a 
few  things,'  are  watching  and  waiting  for  the  heavenly 
welcome. 

"The  following  are  the  names  of  the  ministers  of  the 
gospel  who  have  been  pastors  and  supplies  of  this  congrega- 
tion since  its  organization  :  David  Foster  (died  1833),  Neill 
Johnson,  Daniel  Traughber  (dead),  Samuel  Aston  (died  here 
Nov.  1856),  John  T.  A.  Henderson,  R.  T.  Marlow,  T.  R. 
Lester,  R.  G.  Garden  (died  here  July,  1874),  N.  M.  Baker, 
P.  H.  Crider.  The  above  have  all  been  pastors  and  sup- 
plies, besides  the  following,  who  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a 
few  months  each  at  intervening  times:  J.  C.  Smith,  Abner 
Lansden,  Joseph  B.  Lowrance,  J.  D.  Cowan,  and  M.  Dillow. 
During  the  centennial  year  of  1876  the  congregation  repaired 
their  church  property  to  an  amount  considerably  over  four 
hundred  dollars.  They  support  the  pastor  for  all  his  time, 
and  regularly  attend  to  the  monthly  contribution  for  missions. 
Although  the  congregation  has  suffered  much  by  removals 
and  deaths,  there  is  a  manifest  willingness  and  desire  to 
work  for  the  promotion  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  The 
church  has,  at  present,  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
members,  and  a  Sabbath-school  of  about  seventy-five  pu- 
pils, with  eight  teachers.  The  first  Sabbath-school  in  this 
(Macon)  county  was  organized  at  this  place  by  Rev.  David 
Foster  in  1831.  The  first  superintendent  was  James  Scott, 


SKETCHES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  OLDEST  CHURCHES.      95 

and  the  assistant  was  Andrew  Wilson.  The  first  sermon  in 
this  county  by  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  was  preached  by 
Rev.  John  M.  Berry  in  an  old  log  school  house  three  and  a 
half  miles  southwest  of  Decatur." 


LETTERS    FROM   VARIOUS    BRETHREN    IN    REFERENCE    TO    THE 
EARLY  TIMES  OF    THE  CHURCH  IN  ILLINOIS. 

WE  think  it  best,  at  the  risk  of  some  repetition  in  relation 
to  some  things  in  the  first  years  of  the  Church,  to  let  the 
following  brethren  speak  for  themselves,  in  their  own  lan- 
guage and  in  their  own  style.  We  feel  sure  these  letters  will 
repay  a  careful  reading  and  re-reading.  The  writers  were 
eye-witnesses  of  much  of  which  they  write,  and,  being  now 
far  advanced  in  life,  they  were  themselves  actors,  in  large 
part,  in  the  scenes  so  vividly  described.  First,  we  introduce 
to  the  reader  the  very  interesting  letter  of  Rev.  Neill  Johnson, 
of  McMinnville,  Oregon,  to  whom  we  are  largely  indebted 
for  many  facts  already  referred  to  in  the  fore  part  of  this 
volume,  and  who,  in  a  ripe  old  age,  still  lives  to  work  for  the 
Master  with  marked  vigor.  What  is  here  recorded  from  his 
pen  was  sent  at  different  times,  but  we  shall  publish  his 
letters  as  one  continued  narrative. 

"God,  in  his  providence,  overruled  that  roving,  restless 
disposition,  said  to  be  peculiar  to  the  American  people,  for 
building  up  his  cause  and  lengthening  the  cords  of  his 
Church  ;  and  the  first  stakes  in  nearly  every  place  where  we 
subsequently  formed  an  organization  were  set  by  one  or  more 
ruling  elders  or  prominent  church  members.  These  sent 
pressing  and  earnest  calls  back  to  their  former  pastors  or 
ministers  for  the  preaching  of  the  word  and  the  ordinances 
of  the  Church.  These  calls  never  failed  to  touch  a  tender 


LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN.          97 

cord  in  the  heart  of  the  called  minister,  who,  in  that  day,  did 
not  wait  to  learn  how  much  could  be  raised  to  sustain  him, 
or  whether  anything  could  be  even  promised.  Had  they 
done  this,  many  places  that  now  have  well  paid  pastors  and 
church  houses  \vould  still  be  a  barren  waste,  at  least  so  far  as 
Cumberland  Presbyterians  are  concerned.  Of  these  promi- 
nent members  and  ruling  elders  I  will  name  John  Hamilton 
and  Judge  Taylor,  who  settled  first  near  Golconda,  in  the 
extreme  southern  part  of  the  State,  and,  after  an  organization 
had  been  effected  there,  they  both  removed — the  former  to 
Morgan  county  and  the  latter  to  Sangamon.  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  a  well  informed  theologian,  and  very  able  in  prayer  and 
exhortation.  I  doubt  not  many  stars  will  be  in  his  crown  in 
that  great  day.  On  the  Mauvaisterre,  where  he  settled,  a 
flourishing  congregation  was  built.  We  had  several  very 
interesting  camp-meetings  there,  but  owing  to  removals,  and 
other  causes,  I  think  to-day  we  have  no  organization  near 
there.  Mr.  Hamilton  died  in  a  good  old  age,  and  was 
gathered  to  his  people.  Bro.  Taylor  aided  in  building  up  a 
church  on  Spring  Creek.  Subsequently  he  removed  to 
Rushville,  where  he  again  witnessed  a  revival  and  saw  a 
flourishing  congregation  built  up.  There  he  remained  till 
his  Master  called  him. 

"At  Golconda,  or  near  there,  where  we  first  noticed  these 
brethren,  we  have  still  an  organization.  Bro.  Thomas 
Campbell  first  settled  there  when  a  licentiate,  and  removed 
with  Judge  Taylor.  They  settled  near  each  other  on  Spring 
Creek,  where  Bro.  Campbell  remained  till  his  death,  which 
took  place  very  suddenly  over  twenty-five  years  ago.  Here 
I  will  relate  an  incident  which  I  learned  from  Francis  Dodds, 
of  Kentucky.  At  an  early  day,  when  the  cry  for  ministers 
and  ministerial  labors  were  very  pressing,  the  Synod  ap- 
pointed a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  for  the  special  purpose 
of  asking  God  to  send  more  laborers  into  his  vineyard.  The 
congregation  met  at  Bethlehem  meeting  house,  and  a  solemn 


98  LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN. 

time  it  was,  said  my  informant.  Many  fervent  prayers  were 
offered  that  God  would  send  men  of  his  own  choosing  to 
proclaim  salvation  to  a  dying  world.  Says  he,  'I  had  in  my 
mind  young  men,  educated  men,  and  men  at  a  distance  ;  but 
there  was  my  neighbor,  Thomas  Campbell,  a  very  devoted, 
pious  man,  somewhat  advanced  in  life,  with  a  large  family. 
I  never  once  thought  of  his  being  called  ;  but  when  Presby- 
ter}' met,  some  half  dozen  or  more  came  forward,  Bro. 
Campbell  among  the  rest,  and  there  was  not  a  man  among 
them  that  proved  to  be  more  humble,  holy,  or  useful  than  he 
became.' 

STOUTS    GROVE. 

"The  first  attempt  at  an  organization  in  all  the  region  now 
embraced  in  Mackinaw  and  Decatur  Presbyteries,  was  in  the 
Fall  of  1829.  At  the  time  of  which  I  write  there  were  a  few 
families  of  our  church  settled  in  Stouts  Grove,  then  Taze- 
well  county,  now  McLean  county.  These  were  the  McClure 
connections  and  Peyton  Mitchell.  They  desired  a  camp- 
meeting,  which  was  held  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Berry,  Thomas 
Campbell  and  Gilbert  Dodds.  My  brother,  Archibald  John- 
son, and  I  were  also  present — I  a  licentiate  and  my  brother  a 
candidate.  The  meeting  was  an  interesting  one.  At  its 
close  there  was  a  universal  petition  for  an  immediate 
organization.  Accordingly,  Bro.  Berry  led  in  the  matter, 
and  members  were  received  who  were  scattered  over  a 
territory  more  than  fifty  miles  in  diameter,  and  elders  chosen 
and  ordained,  such  as  had  not  been  previously  ordained. 
They  lived  so  remote  from  each  other  that  it  was  not 
expected  they  would  all  get  together  more  than  once  a  year. 
They  were  expected  and  charged  individually  to  watch  over 
the  members  in  their  several  regions.  All  of  these  elders, 
with  one  exception,  have  gone  to  their  eternal  reward.  No 
two  of  them  lived  nearer  each  other  than  ten  or  fifteen  miles. 
All  of  them,  however,  lived  in  important  neighborhoods,  and 
were  calling  urgently  for  preaching.  At  that  time,  however, 


LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN.  99 

there  was  not  an  ordained  preacher  living  in  the  entire 
bounds  of  what  we  then  called  Stouts  Grove  congregation. 
There  was  one  licentiate  (myself),  and  two  candidates, 
Peyton  Mitchell  and  my  brother,  Archibald  Johnson.  Bro. 
Mitchell  was,  at  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  about 
forty  years  of  age.  He  was  of  a  very  intelligent,  high- 
minded  family,  a  son  of  Col.  Mitchell,  of  the  revolution,  and 
a  brother  of  the  late  professor,  Gen.  Mitchell,  of  the  Union 
army.  All  his  family  connections  were  of  Presbyterian 
parentage,  and  he  was  a  member  of  McGready's  congrega- 
tion in  Kentucky.  He  himself,  however,  I  think,  was  the 
only  one  of  his  father's  family  that  ever  united  with  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterians." 

PEYTON    MITCHELL. 

"Here  I  will  relate  an  incident  which  I  got  from  father 
Roleofson  :  It  is  a  matter  of  history  that  Mr.  McGready, 
on  his  death-bed  or  near  the  time  of  his  death,  advised  his 
people  to  unite  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians;  and, 
accordingly,  they  held  a  camp-meeting  in  the  Roleofson  set- 
tlement, near  where  Mr.  Mitchell  lived.  He  had  never  had 
any  acquaintance  with  our  Church  at  this  time,  and  his 
prejudices  were  all  against  us.  Being  well  acquainted  with 
father  Roleofson,  and  knowing  him  to  be  warm,  and  as  he 
considered,  enthusiastic,  he  took  him  to  one  side  before  there 
had  been  any  preaching,  and  warned  him  that  they  should 
be  careful  and  not  readily  fall  in  with  a  people  that  were 
considered  disorderly.  The  first  man  that  occupied  the  stand 
was  Rev.  Robert  Morrow.  As  he  said  afterwards,  he 
looked  upon  him  as  contemptible,  young,  beardless,  stoop- 
shouldered,  and  hump-backed ;  but  when  Mr.  Morrow 
began,  his  voice  was  clear  and  melodious,  his  arguments 
logical  and  exactly  to  the  point.  Mr.  Mitchell  drew  nearer 
and  nearer,  till,  at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  he  was  standing- 
near  and  facing  Mr.  Morrow  with  mouth  open  and  eyes 


IOO          LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN. 

streaming  with  tears.  The  whole  congregation,  saints  and 
sinners,  were  moved  in  a  manner  which  cannot  be  described 
intelligibly  to  one  who  has  not  witnessed  something  similar. 
From  that  time  Mr.  Mitchell  was  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian. 
He  became  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  at  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Illinois  Presbytery.  Few,  if  any,  of  the  ministry 
believed  that  he  had  preaching  talents,  and  yet  he  exerted 
an  influence  in  that  direction  that  did  much  in  opening  the 
way  for  others  to  do  good.  He  was  of  an  agreeable,  social 
turn  of  mind,  and  possessed  conversational  powers  seldom  sur- 
passed by  our  best  preachers.  He  was  finally  licensed,  but 
never  ordained.  He  was  the  first  one  to  introduce  Cumber- 
land Presbyterians  in  what  was  afterwards  Sandy  Creek 
congregation,  and  perhaps  in  some  other  places." 

ARCHIBALD   JOHNSON.* 

'•I  now  pass  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  and  labors 
of  my  own  dear  brother,  Archibald  Johnson.  He  was  the 
youngest  of  eight  children.  His  grandfather  emigrated 
from  Tyrone  county,  Ireland,  early  in  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  settled  in  the  bounds  of  Barbacas  congregation,  Cum- 
berland county,  N.  C.  Our  mother  was  a  native  of  Jura, 
Scotland,  and  came  to  America  about  the  same  time.  Her 
maiden  name  was  McDuffer.  Our  parents  wrere  married  in 
the  aforesaid  congregation,  and  there  all  the  children  of  our 
family  were  born,  but  the  subject  of  this  notice.  He  was 
born  in  Christian  county,  Ky.,  on  the  26th  of  April,  1.807. 
In  his  childhood  he  had  severe  fits,  but  they  left  him  at  about 
three  }-ears  of  age.  Till  about  seven  years  of  age  he  was 
remarkably  careless.  He  had  neither  taste  nor  inclination 
for  books,  and,  although  he  never  was  given  to  falsehood  or 
profanity,  he  had  no  inclination  to  religion.  At  about  the 

*We  could  not  extract  these  sketdio  and  place  them  with  other  sketches 
without  marrinir.  somewhat,  the  symmetry  of  the  letter.  Hence,  they  arc 
found  here. 


LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN.  IOI 

age  of  seven  years  he  suddenly  became  as  remarkable  for 
his  love  of  books  and  study  as  he  had  before  been  careless 
and  inattentive  ;  and  this  followed  him  to  the  last  of  life. 

"The  first  lasting  religious  impression  made  upon  him  was 
at  a  public  examination  (common  in  that  day),  at  which  the 
adult  members  of  the  church  were  examined  on  theological 
questions  predicated  on  some  one  or  more  questions  in  the 
Catechism,  and  the  children  of  the  church  were  examined 
on  the  Catechism  at  large.     My  brother  readily  answered  all 
the  questions  asked  him  on  the  Catechism.     At  the  close  the 
minister,  Rev.  Wm.   Barnett,  propounded  a  personal  ques- 
tion to  each  child,   and  then    there    followed    a    powerful 
exhortation.     The    question  put  to   my  brother  was :     'Do 
you  ever  pray?'     He  dropped  his  head.     He  said  afterwards  : 
'I  felt  that  I  dared  not  tell  a  lie.'     He  answered,   'No,  sir.' 
Then  followed  an  exhortation  of  a  powerful  character,  fas- 
tening   conviction,    from    which  he    never  got   clear  till    it 
terminated  in  a  sound  conversion.     His  conversion  took  place 
at  a  camp-meeting  in  Illinois    in   1822.     While    many  were 
down  crying  for  mercy,  a  friend  in  whom  he  had  confidence 
went  to  him  and  asked  him  to  bow  in  prayer.     This  he  did, 
and  there  made  a  vow  that  he  would  never  leave  that  spot 
until  he  got  an  evidence  of  pardon,  or  became  satisfied  there 
was  no  pardon  for  him.     In  after  life  he  seriously  condemned 
this  course  as  rash  and  unauthorized.     He  remained  there, 
however,    till   the  congregation  dispersed,  and  he  was  re- 
moved,   unwillingly,    into    a    camp.      There    the    tempter 
suggested  to   him  .he  had    now  broken    his  vow,    and,  like 
Annanias  and  Sapphira,  he  had  lied  to  God,  and  now  there 
was  no  mercy  for  him.     Here  he  sank  into  the  most  gloomy 
depair.     He  told  a  friend  there  was   no  use  in  praying  for 
him  or  in  his  praying  :  that  his  damnation  was  forever  sealed. 
His  friend  told  him,  no  ;  that  the  very  fact  of  his  being  alive 
and  out  of  hell   was  evidence  that  God  had  not  yet  cut  him 
off  from  his  mercy  ;    and   quoted   to   him  that  not  a  sparrow 


102          LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN. 

can  fall  without  his  notice  or  permission.  At  this  he  seemed 
to  catch.  His  mind  was  directed  in  this  wise :  if  God 
catches  the  falling,  worthless  sparrow,  will  he  not  catch  and 
save  the  falling  sinner  for  whom  Christ  died,  who  casts 
himself  wholly  upon  him?  Yes,  he  will.  'Here,'  said  he, 
'I  was  enabled  to  put  my  trust  wholly  on  him  who  watches 
over  even  a  worthless,  helpless  sparrow,  and  more  particu- 
larly a  worthless,  helpless,  falling  sinner.'  He  was  now 
fifteen  years  old.  He  seemed  to  be  impressed  to  warn 
sinners  of  their  danger,  and  began  without  delay  to  urge 
those  of  his  own  age  and  younger  to  come  to  Christ. 

"He  joined  Illinois  Presbytery  in  the  Fall  of  1827.  He 
made  rapid  progress  in  study  until  April,  1830,  when  he  and 
his  friends  expected  he  would  be  licensed  and  placed  on  a 
circuit.  But,  contrary  to  this  expectation,  the  Presbytery, 
on  a  close  vote,  did  not  sustain  his  piece,  and  ordered  him 
to  write  again  from  the  same  text.  He  returned  home  very 
gloomy  and  cast  down,  thinking  the  Presbytery  had  no  con- 
fidence in  him.  In  this,  however,  he  was  mistaken.  For  a 
while  he  gave  up  the  idea  of  preaching,  went  to  farming,  and 
made  an  engagement  to  get  married.  He  did  not  attend 
Presbytery  in  the  Fall,  but  in  the  Spring  of  1831,  at  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  a  friend  who  had  always  exercised  a 
great  influence  over  him,  he  attended,  and  was  licensed. 

"In  the  Fall  of  1830, 

JAMES    E.    DAVIS, 

a  licentiate,  moved  from  Southern  Illinois,  and  settled  near 
what  is  now  Hopedale.  He  professed  religion  early  in  life, 
and  had  deep  impressions  that  it  was  his  duty  to  preach,  but 
never  joined  Presbytery  till  the  Fall  of  1823,  the  second 
meeting  of  Illinois  Presbytery.  He  was  then  some  forty 
years  of  age,  had  but  little  education,  had  a  large  family, 
and  pecuniarily  was  only  in  moderate  circumstances.  He  was 
licensed  in  1825,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Sangamon  Pres- 
bytery in  1834.  He  was  able  in  prayer  and  exhortation,  and 


LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN.  103 

had  a  few  discourses  that  he  preached  acceptably  and  ably. 
He  went  several  times  to  the  General  Assembly.  He  lived 
to  a  good  old  age,  raised  a  respectable  family,  several  of 
whom  died  before  he  did." 

A  BRIEF    SKETCH    OF    THE    ELDERSHIP    OF    STOUTS    GROVE 
CONGREGATION. 

"The  first  congregation,  as  I  have  said,  in  the  bounds  of 
what  subsequently  became  Mackinaw  Presbytery,  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  J.  M.  Berry  in  the  Fall  of  1829,  at  the  close 
of  a  camp-meeting  in  Stouts  Grove.  All  the  first  elders, 
with  the  exception  of  Joel  Hargrove,  have  been  removed  by 
death,  some  of  them  many  years  ago.  Bro.  Hargrove,  how- 
ever, has  resided  on  the  Pacific  Coast  over  twenty  years. 
He  is  now  eighty-two  years  old.  I  saw  him  at  the  meeting 
of  Oregon  Synod  in  November  last,  as  a  member  from 
Cascades  Presbytery.  He  is  hale  and  hearty,  and,  to  all 
appearances,  bids  fair  for  twenty  or  more  years.  He  has 
resided  in  several  localities,  both  on  this  coast  and  in  the 
Atlantic  States,  and  has  been  active,  pecuniarily,  in  organi- 
zation and  in  maintaining  doctrine  and  discipline  in  a  half 
dozen  or  more  congregations.  Few,  if  any,  have  done  more 
pecuniarily  to  sustain  an  evangelical  ministry  than  Bro. 
Hargrove.  While  in  the  Atlantic  States  he  was  a  represen- 
tative in  the  General  Assembly  several  times. 

"Thomas  McClure  and  Robert  Bird  were  considerably 
advanced  in  life  at  the  time  of  which  I  now  write.  Both 
were  converted  in  the  celebrated  revival  of  1800.  Neither 
of  them  possessed  advantages  of  more  than  a  common 
education,  such  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  back  woods  of 
Kentucky  at  any  early  day.  They  were  men,  however,  of 
good  common  sense  and  of  undoubted  piety,  and  had  the 
entire  confidence  of  the  community  where  they  lived.  One 
instance  of  Bro.  Bird's  ready  wit:  A  Universalist  minister 
was  boasting  to  him  of  the  progress  his  church  was  making, 


TO4   .       LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN. 

and  their  increase  in  numbers.  4I  believe,'  said  Mr.  Bird, 
'the  devil  himself  was  a  Universalist  preacher,  and  the  first 
sermon  that  we  have  an  account  of  him  preaching  was  in  the 
Garden  of  Eden.  His  text  was  :  'For  God  doth  know  that 
in  the  day  thou  eatest  thereof  thou  shalt  not  surely  die.' 
He  began  by  denying  what  God  had  said,  and  all  the 
ministers  of  your  church  follow  in  his  footsteps.'  Father 
Bird  and  his  aged  companion  both  died  in  Oregon  several 
years  ago.  Father  McClure  died  on  his  old  homestead  near 
where  our  first  organization  in  this  region  was  made.  His 
aged  companion,  a  true  mother  in  Israel,  survived  him 
several  years.  I  believe  all  their  children  were  pious.  A 
few  were  living,  at  the  last  account,  but  most  of  them  were 
gone.  The  church  in  and  around  Stouts  Grove  still  lives, 
and  I  believe  prospers  ;  and  when  God  writes  up  his  people 
it  shall  be  said,  as  of  Zion  of  old,  'This  and  that  man  was 
born  there.' 

"James  McClure,  much  like  his  father,  lived  a  pious  life 
and  died  a  happy  death.  His  widow  survived  him,  but  he 
left  no  children. 

"Archie  Bryan  was  an  elder  brother  of  Dr.  Alfred  Bryan. 
He  was  a  very  useful,  pious  man,  and  lived  to  see  a  congre- 
gation organized  near  him.  Lincoln  University  is  in  the 
vicinity  where  he  lived  and  died.  'He,  being  dead,  yet 
speaketh.' 

"Ebenezer  Craig  lived  long  enough  to  see  two  or  three 
congregations  not  far  distant  from  where  he  lived  and  died  ; 
but  his  labors  ended  many  years  since. 

"Mr.  Guthrie  is  now  the  only  elder  above  named  whose 
history  remains  to  be  noticed.  He  lived  in  a  sparsely  settled 
region  at  that  time,  and  I  am  not  sure  that  he  was  ever  visited 
by  any  of  our  ministers.  He  stood  nominally  attached  to 
our  Church  for  several  years,  attending,  with  his  family,  our 
annual  camp-meeting  in  Stouts  Grove.  They,  however, 


LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN.  IO5 

finally  joined  the  Methodist  Church,  and  one  or  two  of  his 
sons  became  prominent  ministers  in  that  denomination. 

"With  the  exception  of  the  last  elder  named,  all  of  those 
embraced  in  the  organization  of  Stouts  Grove  lived  to  see 
organizations  in  their  immediate  vicinities.  Some  of  them 
remain  to  the  present  day.  One  only  (Sand  Prairie),  where 
we  had  several  camp-meetings  and  saw  som'e  lasting  good 
done,  has  since  ceased  to  be.  Deaths,  removals,  and  other 
causes,  combined  to  remove  the  candlestick.  But  still,  in 
other  places  besides  these,  God  blessed  the  self-denying 
efforts  of  a  few  toiling,  mostly  unremunerated,  self-denying 
ministers  in  planting  our  standard  in  what  was  then  a  newr 
country.  A  few  in  Oregon,  the  writer  among  the  number, 
are  duplicating  what  we  experienced  in  that  early  day. 
Reader,  compare  the  condition  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  at  the  time  of  which  I  am  now  writing  with 
the  present,  and  then  exclaim:  'What  hath  God  wrought !' 
But  we  still  have  faith  that  God  will  bless  the  poor  labors  of 
his  poor  servants  in  Oregon  as  he  has  done  in  Illinois  ;  and 
to  all  eternity  he  shall  have  the  glory." 

LETTER  FROM  REV.    J.  W.  WOODS. 

"I  think  it  was  in  the  year  1821  that  Richard  Armstrong, 
who  was  a  convert  during  the  great  revival  under  McGready's 
preaching,  moved  into  Clark  county,  this  State,  and  became 
a  nucleus  around  which  gathered  one  of  .the  most  useful 
congregations  of  this  State.  In  1825  there  were  eleven 
church  members  in  the  family,  embracing  two  sons-in-lawr. 
At  that  time  my  father  moved  in,  and  the  next  year  there 
was  an  organization,  Rev.  John  M.  Berry  officiating.  Sev- 
eral ministers  had  visited  them  before  this — Maryweather, 
one  or  two  of  the  Downeys,  and  perhaps  Hunter  and  others. 

"There  should  be  more  than  a  passing  notice  of  Richard 
Armstrong,  for  he  withstood  an  unusually  strong  tide  of 
persecution  from  the  old  church.  No  occurrence  of  the 


IO6          LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN. 

kind,  as  given  in  Alice  McDonald,  surpasses  it.  There  was 
a  strong  organization  there,  embracing  nearly  all  the  intelli- 
gence of  the  country,  when  he  came  in.  I  recollect  him 
making  this  remark  at  one  time  to  my  father :  'I  shall  have 
no  more  trouble  from  these  people.  The  Lord  has  bridled 
them.  They  must  stop.  The  Lord  will  give  me  triupmh 
over  them.'  I  was  then  a  little  boy,  but  a  decided  impres- 
sion was  made  on  my  mind,  and  I  looked  on  and  remembered 
as  the  years  rolled  away.  It  \vas  realized  to  the  letter. 
Some  died ;  some  removed  to  Coles  county  and  there 
acknowledged  our  doctrines ;  and  some  who  remained 
became  convinced  they  were  of  God,  and  a  few  came  into 
the  Church.  Nearly  all  of  their  children  became  converts  in 
the  end.  Richard  Armstrong  lived  to  see  a  strong  church 
built  up,  and  five  or  six  more  organized,  in  whole  or  in  part 
the  outgrowth  of  old  Big  Creek  church.  As»  an  elder  he 
traveled  into  Vermillion,  Coles,  Macon,  Fayette,  Shelby, 
Bond,  and  other  counties." 

LETTER  FROM  REV.  R.  D.  TAYLOR. 

"Revs.  Neill  and  Archibald  Johnson,  James  E.  Davis, 
James  McDowell,  and  Peyton  Mitchell  (licentiate)  were 
here  when  I  came  to  the  State  of  Illinois  in  1836.  They 
were  all  faithful  servants  of  the  Church,  laboring  day  and 
night  for  the  salvation  of  sinners,  and  God  greatly  blessed 
their  labors,  "\yell  do  I  remember  with  what  zeal  and  power 
they  preached  the  gospel.  In  those  early  days  there  were- 
but  few  church  houses.  We  had  generally  to  depend  upon 
log  school  houses,  barns,  and  the  shady  groves.  Camp- 
meetings  were  the  order  of  the  day  from  the  month  of 
August  to  the  last  of  October.  Scores  were  converted  at 
these  meetings.  Hundreds  came  from  a  distance  of  forty 
and  fifty  miles.  They  generally  commenced  on  Friday  and 
closed  on  the  following  Tuesday  morning.  Out  of  the  labors 
of  these  faithful  men  of  God  congregations  were  organized 


LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN.  IO*J 

over  many  portions  of  what  Is  now  known  as  Mackinaw 
Presbytery.  Most  of  the  old  ministers  and  elders  of  those 
days  have  gone  to  their  reward  in  heaven.  Truly  it  may  be 
said  of  them,  'Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord 
from  henceforth  ;  yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest 
from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them.' 

"My  father  and  mother  were  both  members  of  the  Beech 
congregation  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
Sumner  county,'  Tenn.  They  were  converts  of  the  revival 
of  1800.  My  father,  Robert  Taylor,  was  a  ruling  elder  of 
the  above-named  congregation,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
until  the  day  of  his  death.  My  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Margaret  Kirkpatrick,  sister  of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Kirkpatrick. 
My  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania ;  my  mother  in  South 
Carolina.  They  died  full  of  years,  in  hope  of  a  blessed 
immortality  and  eternal  life  beyond  the  grave.  They  were 
buried  in  the  Beech  cemetery,  near  the  old  Beech  stone 
church,  of  precious  memory.  I  have  often  heard  my  father 
speak  of  the  organization  of  our  church :  how  he  had  en- 
tertained all  the  first  ministers  around  his  table  at  the  same 
time.  He  had  a  good  opportunity  to  be  conversant  with 
their  trials  and  discouragements.  But  never  did  I  hear  him 
intimate  that  our  fathers  in  the  ministry  ever  made  any  prop- 
osition to  unite  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  as 
related  by  Dr.  Cartwright.  If  there  had  ever  been  such  a 
proposition  my  father  certainly  would  have  known  something 
about  it,  and  I  would  most  certainly  have  heard  him  speak 
of  it.  I  was  born  in  Sumner  county,  Tenn.,  Feb.  17,  1814. 
I  professed  religion  about  the  year  1826  under  the  labors  of 
Revs.  Francis  Johnson  and  Eli  Guthrie,  at  a  camp-meeting 
at  Mt.  Moriah.  No  instrumentality  was  more  efficient, 
under  God,  in  my  salvation  than  the  prayers  of  my  father. 
At  an  early  day  after  my  conversion  I  was  strongly  impressed 
with  the  duty  of  preaching  the  gospel,  but,  being  unwilling 
to  enter  upon  that  duty,  I  chose  the  profession  of  medicine. 


IO8  LETTERS  FROM  VARIOUS  BRETHREN. 

In  view  of  that  profession,  when  about  eighteen  years  old  I 
entered  Cumberland  College.  There,  among  strangers  and 
in  a  strang  land,  I  was  more  and  more  impressed  with  the 
duty  of  preaching  the  gospel.  Neither  time  nor  place  had 
made  any  change  in  my  mind.  Such  \vas  my  state  of  mind, 
in  a  great  measure  I  lost  the  enjoyment  of  religion.  I  often 
feared  that  I  had  never  been  converted.  I  could  not  pursue 
my  studies  in  College  with  any  satisfaction  ;  and,  writh  a 
mind  dark  as  midnight,  I  kept  my  own  impressions  of  duty 
to  myself.  I  made  no  man  my  counsellor,  having  settled 
upon  my  profession  before  I  entered  College.  I  supposed 
all  were  in  profound  ignorance  of  my  state  of  mind  ;  and 
if  I  did  not  believe  in  a  special  call  to  the  gospel  ministry, 
the  whole  matter,  up  to  this  day,  would  be  to  me  a  profound 
mystery.  Princeton  Presbytery  having  met  in  College  (I 
cannot  definitely  mention  the  date),  Dr.  Beard  came  to  my 
room  and  informed  me  that  he  wished  to  speak  to  me  pri- 
vately. To  my  great  surprise,  he  informed  me  that  if  I 
wished  to  unite  with  Presbytery  I  could  now  have  the 
opportunity.  I  went  with  him.  After  a  full  relation  of  my 
feelings,  I  was  received  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  under 
the  care  of  the  Princeton  Presbytery,  and  Psalm  cxlv.  20  was 
assigned  me  as  a  text  to  prepare  a  written  discourse  upon  for 
next  Presbytery.  In  the  Spring  of  1836,  in  the  city  of 
Princeton,  Ky.,  I  was  duly  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
Princeton  Presbytery,  wherever  God  in  his  providence  might 
cast  my  lot.  The  same  Spring  I  was  licensed  I  came  to 
Illinois,  and  in  1837  was  ordained  to  the  whole  work  of  the 
ministry  by  the  Presbytery  of  Mackinaw.  My  whole  life, 
from  the  time  I  united  with  Presbytery,  has  been  particularly 
devoted  to  the  interest  of  the  Church.  On  the  8th  of 
August,  1837,  I  was  united  in  marriage  to  Martha  A.  Rob- 
bins  by  Rev.  James  E.  Davis  in  the  town  of  Marion,  111." 


MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION. 

IN  an  important  sense,  nearly  all  the  work  done  in  the 
State,  until  within  a  few  years,  was  mission  work.  When 
the  writer  first  became  acquainted  with  the  Church  in  Illinois 
(1853) — and  his  position  enabled  him  to  know — there  was 
not  a  congregation  in  the  State  wholly  sustaining  a  pastor. 
The  whole  field  was  missionary  ground. 

At  an  early  day  the  Board  of  Missions,  at  Lebanon, 
Tenn.,  established  a  mission  at  Peoria,  and  not  long  after 
sent  a  missionary  to  Macomb.  Rev.  S.  T.  Stewart  was  the 
missionary  to  the  former  place  for  some  }^ears.  He  organ- 
ized a  small  congregation,  and  there  was  built  a  house  of 
worship,  and  for  a  time  there  seemed  to  be  a  good  prospect 
of  success.  He  finally  resigned,  and  accepted  the  charge  of 
the  church  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  as  pastor.  The  congregation 
in  Peoria  was  left  for  a  time  without  a  pastor.  Then  the 
war  came  on  and  further  demoralized  the  little  flock. 

In  1863  the  General  Assembly  appointed  a  missionary 
committee  at  Alton,  to  act  in  the  place  of  the  Board  of 
Missions  located  at  Lebanon,  Tenn.,  from  which  the  missions 
in  Illinois  were  now  separated  by  the  war.  This  committee 
existed  two  years,  and  then  was  organized  by  the  Assembly 
of  1865  into  a  regular  Board  consisting  of  thirteen  members. 

The  missions  in  Illinois,  and  all  north  of  Tennessee,  were 
turned  over  to  this  Board.  Peoria  had  been  without  a  mis- 
sionary for  more  than  a  year  before  the  committee  existed. 
The}'  found  the  little  flock  scattered  and  greatly  discouraged. 
To  get  a  man  for  the  place  seemed  next  to  impossible.  The 


110  MISSIONS   AND   PUBLICATION, 

war  was  raging  in  all  its  fury.  Finally  Rev.  L.  W.  SayerS, 
of  Pennsylvania,  was  secured.  He  was  a  worthy  man  and  a 
good  preacher.  Under  his  labors  the  mission  began  to 
revive,  and  strong  hopes  were  entertained  of  its  success, 
when  he  was  prostrated  by  sickness  from  which  he  never 
recovered.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Sayers,  it  seemed 
impossible  to  secure  a  supply.  The  Board  reported  to  the 
Assembly  in  1865  that  the  mission  had  been  without  a  mis- 
sionary for  over  two  years,  and  they  had  despaired  of 
procuring  one.  In  the  meantime,  deaths  and  removals  had 
almost  annihilated  the  little  band  at  Peoria.  The  Sangamon 
Synod,  by  whom  the  enterprise  had  been  started,  finally  took 
entire  control  of  the  mission,  but  never  succeeded  in  reviving 
it.  The  property  was  finally  sold,  and  the  enterprise  aban- 
doned. Had  it  not  been  for  the  war,  we  do  not  doubt 
success  would  have  crowned  the  enterprise. 

Macomb  mission  went  in  the  same  way,  except  that  the 
house  is  still  preserved.  It  seemed  impossible  to  get  suitable 
men  and  means  for  these  points  at  that  day. 

Mattoon  was  also  for  some  time  a  mission  point,  receiving 
counsel  and  help  from  the  Board.  The  congregation  is  still 
living,  with  a  good  house  of  worship. 

Atlanta  is  another  point  which  was,  for  a  time,  nominally 
under  the  Board's  care.  Rev.  J.  E.  Roach  was  the  mission- 
ary. He  was  to  receive  all  the  funds  contributed  by  Mack- 
inaw Presbytery.  The  congregation  is  still  living,  with  a 
good  house  of  worship,  but  at  present  is  unsupplied. 

Perhaps  the  mission  which  engaged  most  attention,  and 
had  the  hardest  struggle,  was  the  Alton  mission.  It  was 
started  by  Vandalia  Presbytery.  As  early  as  1848  they 
formed  a  Presbyterial  Missionary  Society,  auxiliary  to  the 
Assembly's  Board.  Shortly  after,  Rev.  A.  M.  Wilson  was 
employed  as  traveling  missionary  at  $200  per  annum.  In 
the  Fall  of  1850  this  Society  paid  Mr.  Wilson  and  had  $36.41 
left  in  the  treasury.  The  missionary  had  traveled  and 


MISSIONS   AND   PUBLICATION,  III 

preached  over  a  large  area,  and  had  succeeded  well.  In 
closing  up  the  report  of  the  Treasurer  the  Secretary  records  : 
"He  also  reports  a  subscription  paper  for  the  special  pur- 
pose of  raising  means  for  sustaining  a  missionary  in  Alton  ; 
that  there  is  on  said  paper  $51.50  subscribed,  $5  of  which 
is  paid."  This  seems  to  have  been  the  beginning  of  the  Alton 
mission.  At  this  same  meeting  Mr.  Wilson,  the  missionary, 
was  instructed  to  take  subscription  for  the  Alton  enterprise  ; 
and  the  Secretary,  Rev.  Joel  Knight,  was  to  present  the 
matter  to  Synod,  and  try  to  enlist  that  body  in  the  enterprise. 
At  every  subsequent  semi-annual  meeting  the  matter  was 
discussed  with  increased  interest,  until  the  Fall  of  1853, 
when  Rev.  T.  H.  Hardwick  was  employed  to  go  to  Alton 
and  begin  operations  as  a  missionary.  Mr.  Wilson  was  now 
residing  in  Upper  Alton,  and  proposed  to  board  any  mission- 
ary gratis  for  a  year.  Mr.  Hardwick,  having  no  family, 
was  engaged  for  $300  per  annum,  exclusive  of  board.  He 
entered  upon  his  work  Dec.  i,  1853,  and  continued  one  year. 
During  this  time  he,  assisted  by  others,  held  a  meeting  of 
much  interest  in  the  town  of  Upper  Alton,  at  which  there 
were  over  thirty  professions  of  religion,  and  twenty-six  per- 
sons gave  their  names  to  form  a  congregation.  But  Mr. 
Hardwick  became  dissatisfied  when  the  year  expired,  de- 
clined a  re-engagement,  and  went  to  the  State  of  Texas, 
where,  a  few  years  after,  he  died. 

From  the  Fall  of  1854  to  tne  Spring  of  1855  Rev.  A.  M. 
Wilson  supplied  the  mission.  In  the  Spring  of  1855  the 
writer  removed  his  family  from  St.  Louis  to  lower  Alton — 
which  is  Alton  proper — in  order  to  secure  a  more  healthy 
position  for  his  family,  while  publishing,  in  St.  Louis,  the 
Missouri  Cumberland  Presbyterian.  He  was  solicited  to 
take  charge  of  the  mission,  and  agreed  to  do  so  till  some 
missionary  could  be  obtained,  he  spending  all  his  Sabbaths 
and  one-half  of  his  week  time  serving  the  mission,  and 
to  receive  for  his  services  $600.  The  following  June  he 


112  MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION. 

organized  a  little  congregation  of  eighteen  members  in  the 
German  church  on  Henry  street,  with  William  Blair  and 
Benjamin  Rose  as  elders.  Trustees  were  also  elected,  a  lot 
bought,  and  a  church  house  begun,  the  basement  of  which 
was  so  far  completed  that  the  little  flock  held  their  first 
meeting  in  it  the  first  Sunday  in  January,  1856.  The  second 
Sunday  the  Sunday-school  was  organized,  with  Stephen 
Lufkin  as  Superintendent.  It  had  twenty-five  to  thirty  mem- 
bers. The  next  Spring  the  audience  room  was  completed, 
and  was  dedicated  in  June.  The  whole  cost — embracing 
lot,  fencing  and  house — was  over  $5,200.  A  debt  was  left 
on  it  of  full  one-half  this  sum.  When  the  first  year  expired 
(we  quote  from  the  records  of  the  Presbyterial  Society 
which  employed  the  missionary),  "it  was  found,  on  examin- 
ation, that  the  missionary  had  received  during  the  last  year 
$282,  which  was  a  little  short  of  one-half  the  salary  he 
proposed  to  labor  for.  He,  Rev.  J.  B.  Logan,  proposed,  in 
order  to  disembarrass  the  Board,  to  make  a  sacrifice  of  one 
half  ($300)  for  his  past  services." — Miss.  Soc.  records, 
Page  35-  That  is,  the  writer  gave  them,  the  first  year  of  his 
services,  three  hundred  dollars  to  sustain  that  enterprise.  It 
was  do  this,  or  place  the  whole  work  done  in  jeopardy.  We 
may  say,  also,  that  we  paid  this  first  year  for  the  single  item 
of  house  rent  $250,  being  within  $50  of  our  entire  salary. 
Besides  this,  we  had  already  given  to  the  church  house 
fund  $100,  and  supplemented  it  with  $150  more  during  the 
second  and  third  years.  We  record  these  items,  not  out  of 
any  spirit  of  egotism,  but  to  show  what  poor  missionaries  in 
our  Church  have  passed  through.  In  making  our  own  we 
are  making,  in  substance,  a  record  for  many  others.  Better 
days  are  upon  us  now — thank  God! — but  it  is  well  not  to 
forget  these  times  of  past  hardship  and  trial. 

God  blessed  the  mission  with  his  favor.     Souls  were  con- 
verted,  and   a   number  added   each   year.      But  thev   were 

J  J 

mostly  of  the   poor  class ;    and   while   the   membership   in- 


MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION.  113 

creased  and  the  spiritual  work  went  on  hopefully  and,  many 
times,  gloriously,  the  missionary's  salary  was  never  fully 
paid.  He  sometimes  lacked  fifty  dollars,  sometimes  a  larger 
amount.  The  war,  in  1861,  found  us  with  a  good  and 
increasing  membership  ;  but,  cut  off,  as  we  were,  from  the 
parent  Board,  from  which  \ve  received  quarterly  fifty  dollars, 
we  had  only  $300  subscribed  by  our  membership,  of  which 
all  was  not  realized.  Worse  still,  our  church  debt  was  near 
$2,300,  bearing  ten  per  cent,  interest.  Five  hundred  dollars 
of  the  money  was  borrowed  in  a  place,  and  the  missionary's 
name  was  to  all  of  the  notes.  It  was  a  dark  day.  We  shall 
never  forget  it.  But  God  heard  prayer  and  sent  deliverance. 
Good  brethren  in  the  country,  without  being  asked,  sent  us 
wagon  loads  of  provisions  ;  and  we  employed  R.  M.  Beard, 
of  Abingdon,  then  quite  a  young  man,  to  enlist  as  agent  to 
get  means  to  pay  the  church  out  of  debt.  In  less  than  a 
year,  with  what  he  raised  in  the  country  and  we  in  the  city, 
we  got  every  dollar  and  paid  every  note,  and  that,  too,  while 
the  war  was  upon  us  in  all  its  fury.  During  the  war  God 
poured  out  his  Spirit,  and  every  year  witnessed  a  glorious 
revival  of  religion.  Up  to  the  year  1870  there  had  been 
over  seven  hundred  professions  of  religion  in  that  church, 
and  between  four  and  five  hundred  had  been  received  on 
examination.  After  the  war  closed,  certain  kinds  of 
business  which  had  been  flourishing  in  the  city  were  trans- 
ferred to  St.  Louis,  and  the  congregation  lost  more  by 
removals  in  a  year  than  were  added  by  examination.  In 
one  year  over  thirty  were  dismissed  by  letter,  and  among 
them  were  some  of  the  principal  men  of  means.  So  the 
church  was  destined  to  another  painful  trial.  Two  or  three 
other  leading  business  men  died.  To  complicate  the  trouble, 
an  improvement  was  suggested  by  one  or  two  men,  and 
finally  agreed  to  by  the  trustees,  which  necessitated 
borrowing  $2,500  in  money.  The  improvement  was 
made,  and  the  debt  has  long  been  an  incubus,  but, 


114  MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION. 

at   present    writing,    seems    in    a    fair    wav    to    be    extin 
guished. 

In  1871  the  writer,  after  serving  the  congregation  from  its 
organization,  resigned.  His  resignation  was  refused  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  and  a  written  protest  addressed  him  in  very 
strong  and  affectionate  language.  But,  after  supplying  them 
another  year,  they  yielded  to  his  request,  and  employed 
another.  They  have  been  served  a  short  time  by  Revs.  J. 
T.  May,  J.  W.  Blosser,  and  J.  H.  Hendrick  respectively. 
Though  much  smaller  in  number  than  they  were  once,  yet 
they  have  a  good  Sunday-school  and  prayer-meeting,  and 
are  a  live  people  yet. 

ITINERANT    WORK. 

Although  there  is  not  the  missionary  work  done  in  the 
State  now  in  this  form  that  was  performed  in  earlier  days, 
yet  several  of  the  Presbyteries  do  have  one  or  more  travel- 
ing missionaries  in  the  field,  and  a  good  work  is  done 
thereby. 

BOARD    OF    MISSIONS. 

As  already  stated,  the  General  Assembly  in  1863  appointed 
a  standing  Committee  on  Missions,  which  was  located  at 
Alton,  111.,  composed  of  the  following  members:  F.  Lack, 
St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  D.  R.  Bell,  Otterville,  111. ;  J.  H.  Murphy, 
Alton,  111.  ;  R.  B.  Grossman,  Alton  ;  J.  B.  Logan,  Alton  ; 
J.  M.  Bone,  Donnellson,  111.  ;  J.  H.  Nickell,  H.  W.  Eagan, 
Salem,  111. ;  Isham  Finch,  Otterville,  111. ;  James  Bellas, 
Alton;  and  G.  W.  Montgomery,  Windsor,  111.  This  Com- 
mittee organized  by  electing  Rev.  F.  Lack  Chairman,  and 
Rev.  J.  B.  Logan  Secretary.  J.  H.  Murphy,  Esq.,  was 
Treasurer.  The  General  Assembly  of  1865  turned  this 
Committee  into  a  regular  Board  of  Missions,  composed  of 
the  following  members:  J.  B.  Logan,  S.  P.  Greenwood, 
Isham  Finch,  F.  Lack,  F.  Bridgeman,  D.  R.  Bell,  P.  G. 
Rea,  J.  C.  Bowdon,  W.  B.  Fair,  S.  Richards,  H.  W. 


MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION. 

Eagan,  and  R.  S.  Reed.  They  organized  by  electing  J.  B. 
Logan  President,  H.  W.  Eagan  Secretary,  S.  P.  Greenwood 
Treasurer.  With  slight  changes  in  the  membership,  this 
Board  continued  at  Alton  until  the  action  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  1869  consolidated  the  Boards,  and  located  the 
united  Board  at  St.  Louis. 

Its  existence  at  Alton  was,  Committee  and  Board  together, 
for  the  term  of  six  years.  It  did  not  do  a  great  work,  and 
yet  it  did  something  to  keep  alive  missions  established  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  Church,  and  also  did  something  to  beget 
and  cultivate  the  spirit  of  missions  in  the  churches.  Some 
of  its  members  were  still  continued  as  members  of  the  new 
Board  at  St.  Louis.  If  the  future  reader  of  history  does  not 
find  its  work  very  extensive  and  fruitful,  he  must  remember 
that  it  operated  in  times  when  it  was  difficult,  if  not 
impossible,  to  get  harmony  of  sentiment  and  action  from  the 
churches  on  any  subject.  Men's  minds  were  unduly  excited 
by  the  war.  Political  prejudices  caused  many  to  array 
themselves  against  the  Board,  and  others  were  indifferent. 
In  some  quarters  the  Board  was  put  down  as  ''pro  slavery," 
and  sympathizing  with  the  rebellion.  In  other  places  they 
were  regarded  as  ultra  "radicals,"  and  therefore  no  help 
was  afforded.  But  we  take  great  pleasure  in  here  recording 
that,  although  there  were  in  the  Board  men  of  the  most 
opposite  and  positive  views  about  the  war,  these  were  never 
introduced  into  our  counsels  nor  spoken  of  at  our  meetings  ; 
and  the  charges  from  all  sides,  respecting  the  Board  being 
controlled  in  any  degree  by  political  sentiment  or  bias,  were 
certainly  unjust  and  unfounded.  The  writer  was  honored 
as  President  throughout  the  entire  six  years,  and  knows 
whereof  he  affirms.  These  men  met  regularly  once  a  month, 
and  counseled  and  prayed  together  as  brethren,  and  parted 
when  the  Board  was  dissolved,  without  a  single  word  having 
ever  been  introduced  on  these  subjects,  even  remotely,  in  all 
our  six  years'  intercourse.  Warm,  earnest  discussions  there 


Jl6  MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION. 

were,  animated  debates,  wide  differences  of  opinion  held 
and  expressed,  but  these  discussions  and  debates  and  differ- 
ences were  all  pertaining  to  our  missionary  work — how  we 
could  best  promote  and  prosper  it.  The  war,  and  political 
issues  of  any  kind,  never  entered  into  our  conversations  or 
work.  As  a  Board  we  honestly  and  faithfully  did  what  we 
could,  and  the  writer  believes  that  at  least  the  spirit  of 
missions  was  kept  up,  and,  to  a  degree,  cultivated  by  this 
Board  as  not  before,  at  least  in  our  northern  territory. 

PUBLICATION. 

In  the  Winter  of  1855  and  1856,  perhaps  in  the  month  of 
February,  1856,  the  Missouri  Cumberland  Presbyterian, 
before  published  in  St.  Louis,  was  removed  to  Alton,  and 
published  there  until  the  following  June.  This  paper  was 
started  by  the  writer  in  the  city  of  Lexington,  Mo.,  in  April 
of  1852,  at  the  earnest  request  of  leading  men  all  over  that 
State.  After  publishing  in  Lexington  about  one  year,  we 
removed  to  St.  Louis  in  April,  1853,  the  facilities  for  such 
work  being  every  way  superior  in  St.  Louis.  We  resided 
here  two  years,  during  which  time  constant  sickness  in  the 
family,  resulting  in  the  death  of  one  member,  determined  us 
to  seek  a  home  for  the  family  out  of  the  city,  if  possible. 
Accordingly,  on  the  i5th  day  of  March,  1855,  we  removed 
to  the  city  of  Alton,  after  having  taken  the  remains  of  a  dear 
boy  thither  to  be  buried.  Seeing  the  facilities  for  printing, 
mailing  and  transporting  a  newspaper  were  just  as  good  in 
Alton  as  in  St.  Louis,  and  the  expense  much  less,  we  removed 
the  material  and  office  to  Alton  in  February  following.  In 
May,  1857,  while  at  the  General  Assembly  in  Huntsvillc, 
Ala.,  we  sold  our  list^o  A.  F.  Cox,  who  was  publishing  the 
Watchman  and  Evangelist  in  Louisville,  Ky.  The  con- 
ditions of  the  trade  were,  that  the  two  lists  were  to  be  united 
and  brought  to  St.  Louis,  and  that  Rev.  Dr.  Bird  was  to  be 
editor  of  the  united  paper.  This  was  accomplished.  Dr. 


MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION.  11^ 

Bird  remained  editor,  however,  only  one  year.  We 
published  the  Missouri  Cumberland  Presbyterian  six  years, 
and  when  it  was  turned  over  to  Mr.  Cox  we  were  issuing 
about  three  thousand  copies.  Considering  the  fact  that  when 
we  began  we  were  totally  inexperienced  in  newspaper  editing 
and  publishing,  and  the  entire  territory  from  which  we  were 
to  receive  our  patronage  was  sparsely  settled,  the  churches 
poor,  weak,  scattered  and  untrained,  we  have  always  re- 
garded the  success  as  rather  remarkable. 

Shortly  after  selling  the  weekly,  Rev.  W.  W.  Brown,  then 
residing  near  Alton,  and  the  writer  purchased  the  list  of  the' 
Ladies'  Pearl  from  Rev.  W.  S.  Langdon,  at  Nashville,  and 
published  this  ladies'  monthly  in  Alton  with  encouraging 
results,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1861  compelled 
us  to  suspend  it.  It  had  a  good  list  of  subscribers  and 
correspondents,  and  was  gaining  ground  fast. 

From  June,  1861,  to  June,  1862,  the  war  raged  in  great  fury. 
The  writer  was  struggling  with  his  mission,  then  having  only 
a  handful  of  members  and  they  poor.     But  in  the  Spring  of 
1862  he  was  urged  by  a  large  number  of  ministers  through- 
out Illinois,   Iowa  and  elsewhere  to  publish  some  sort  of  a 
Church  paper,  as  a  medium  of  communication  and  counsel 
during  those  dark  and  terrible  days.     We  finally  consented, 
although  we  had  not  a  dollar  on  earth  to  start  it  with,  and 
newspapers  by  the  score  had  been  ceasing  all  over  the  coun- 
try.    However,   relying  on  the  direction  of  the  "high  and 
holy  one,"  we  made  the  venture,   and  issued  the    Western 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  in  the  month  of  June,   1862.     It 
seemed  a  necessity  at  the  time  ;  but  the  high  prices  of  paper 
and  all  kinds  of  material  used  for  publishing,  added  to  the 
fact  that  the  proprietor  had    to    borrow   money    at   a   high 
interest  to  start  and  support  it  for  two  years,  and  the  addi- 
tional  fact,    that   he  had   charge   of   a  mission    church  not 
rendering  even    half  a    support  to    his   family,    made    it   an 
exceedingly   dangerous  experiment.     Three   denominational 


Il8  MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION. 

papers  in  St.  Louis  had  suspended.  But  a  kind  Providence 
seemed  to  smile  upon  the  new  undertaking,  and  it  increased 
in  patronage  until,  had  it  not  been  for  the  large  debt  incurred 
in  starting  it,  it  would  in  two  years  have  paid  its  way,  and  a 
handsome  profit  besides. 

In  1866  we  sold  the  list  and  material  to  T.  H.  Perrin, 
retaining  the  editorship  until  1868,  when  Rev.  J.  R.  Brown, 
D.  D.,  bought  half  the  interest  in  it.  The  writer  then 
bought  the  list  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  from  A.  B. 
Miller,  D.  D.,  and  the  two  lists  were  united  at  Alton. 
Brown,  Perrin  &  Logan  were  to  be  the  firm.  We  were  to 
be  equal  partners,  and  Mr.  Brown  and  the  writer  were  to  be 
co-editors.  This  continued  but  a  short  time,  when  the 
writer  sold  all  his  interest  in  the  concern  to  Brown  &  Perrin, 
and  retired  from  the  paper.  It  is  but  due  to  truth  to  say, 
that  we  could  have  sold  several  times  to  other  parties  for  a 
larger  price,  had  we  consented  to  have  the  paper  removed  to 
another  part  of  our  Church  territory.  But  believing  that  we 
were  in  duty  bound  to  publish  in  Alton  or  St.  Louis,  as  all 
the  subscribers  had  been  obtained  with  that  proposal  pub- 
lished to  the  world,  we  could  not  feel  that  we  had  any  legal 
or  moral  right  to  transfer  this  list  to  any  other  locality. 

When  the  two  lists  were  united  the  term  "Western"  as  a 
prefix  was  dropped  by  mutual  consent,  and  the  united  paper 
called  simply  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian.  Dr.  brown 
continued  to  edit  the  paper  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  writer, 
and  Brown  &  Perrin  to  publish  it,  until  it  had  as  large,  if  not 
the  largest  list  in  the  denomination.  It  was  enlarged  and 
improved,  was  a  universal  favorite  with  the  Church  in  the 
Northwest  until  its  removal  to  Nashville.  It  served  a  noble 
purpose  and  did  a  good  work.  It  was  the  medium  of  coun- 
sel and  encouragement  in  planning  and  setting  on  foot 
Lincoln  University.  It  is  more  than  questionable  in  the  mind 
of  the  writer  whether  it  was  possible  ever  to  have  successfully 
planned  and  started  the  University,  without  the  advantages 


MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION.  lip 

of  this  medium,  or  another  like  it.  During  the  dark  and 
exciting  years  of  the  war,  the  writer  and  some  of  his  corres- 
pondents may  not  always  have  expressed  themselves  as 
discreetly  as  they  ought  on  the  troublous  questions  which 
were  ever  agitating  the  Church  and  country.  No  doubt 
errors  and  blunders  were  made  ;  but  he  did  the  best  he 
knew,  and  hopes — yea,  believes — that,  notwithstanding  mis- 
takes, the  benefits  received  from  the  paper  were  far  in 
excess  of  the  evils.  To  the  existence  of  a  weekly  paper 
published  in  our  State  we  trace  no  little  of  the  advance  and 
improvement  everywhere  to  be  seen  in  church  matters  during 
the  last  twenty  years. 

In  September,  1875,  T.  H.  Perrin  and  the  writer  began 
the  publication  of  Our  Faith,  a  monthly,  which  was  received 
with  much  favor,  and,  after  continuing  a  year  and  seven 
months,  was  disposed  of  to  the  St.  Louis  Observer.  It  paid 
its  way  from  the  first  issue,  and  rendered  the  proprietors 
some  profit  besides 

A.S  the  writer  was  connected  with  all  these  interests,  he 
wishes  to  record  here  his  gratitude  to  Almighty  God  for  his 
help  and  guidance  under  all  these  mighty  responsibilities, 
and  especially  for  his  constant  blessings  during  the  dark  and 
stormy  scenes  of  the  "cruel  war"  in  which  our  unfortunate 
country  was  plunged.  Ho~u  we  managed  to  publish  a 
weekly  paper — begin  it  without  a  dollar  of  capital,  with  no 
visible  aid  a  day  in  advance,  under  such  fearful  circum- 
stances— -and  carry  it  on  successfully  during  all  the  war, 
never  lose  an  issue,  never  have  a  note  go  to  protest  nor  a 
friend  to  lose  a  dollar  on  our  account,  with  a  mission  church, 
fearfully  in  debt,  on  hands  at  the  same  time,  which  paid  but 
$300  or  $400  to  the  preacher  for  his  support—  we  say,  ho-w 
all  this  was  done  the  reader  will  know  as  much  about  as  the 
writer.  We  can  only  record  that  we  believe  in  our  inmost 
soul  that  "God  was  our  helper;"  and  to  his  blessed  name 
be  all  the  honor  forever  and  ever,  Wonderful  to  record  ! 


I2O  MISSIONS    AND    PUBLICATION. 

the  paper  steadily  increased  in  patronage  to  the  day  we 
separated  from  it ;  and  had  not  our  poverty  and  the  debt 
incurred  to  start  it  made  it  indispensable  to  sell,  in  order  to 
pay  the  debt,  we  might,  perhaps,  have  still  been  connected 
with  its  interests. 


EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS. 

THERE  is  no  subject  on  which  Cumberland  Presbyterians 
have  been  less  understood  than  on  the  subject  of  education. 
For  many  years  it  was  currently  reported  and  believed,  by  a 
large  number,  that  our  people  were  not  only  destitute  of 
common  intelligence,  but  that  they  were  in  favor  of  an 
illiterate  ministry.  I  am  sorry  to  have  cause  for  saying  that 
many  in  the  "mother  church,"  for  the  first  twenty-five  years 
of  our  denominational  existence,  gave  strength  to  this  unjust 
charge,  by  repeatedly  publishing,  in  their  books  and  papers, 
that  the  main  cause  for  the  separation  and  organization  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  that  they  did  not 
believe  in  an  educated  ministry,  and  especially  in  a  ministry 
classically  educated.  There  never  was  a  shadow  of  truth  in 
this  charge.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  the  firm  conviction  of  the 
writer  that  no  denomination  of  people  on  the  continent  have 
given  stronger  evidence  of  their  love  for,  and  high  apprecia- 
tion of,  a  thoroughly  educated  ministry  than  has  our  infant 
Church.  Of  course,  in  making  up  our  judgment  in  the  case 
we  must  lake  into  the  account  all  the  circumstances  of  their 
condition  :  their  "deep  poverty,"  their  paucity  in  numbers, 
their  lack  of  the  means  and  facilities  to  promote  education, 
the  "waste  howling  wilderness"  which  surrounded  them  on 
all  sides  for  hundreds  of  miles,  inhabited  mostly  by  wild 
beasts  and  wild  Indians  —  the  latter  more  to  be  feared  than 
the  beasts  of  prey. 

At  the  organization,  or  rather  re-organization,  of  Cumber- 


122  EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS. 

land  Presbytery  in  1810,  there  was  not,  west  of  the 
Alleghanies,  a  single  school  under  the  control  of  either 
Church  or  State  which  would  now  be  deemed  worthy  the 
name  of  a  college.  A  collegiate  education  for  the  ministry, 
as  required  by  the  old  Westminster,  was  an  impossibility. 
And  yet  we  find  our  fathers  consulting  about  a  college  to 
educate  the  rising  ministry,  among  the  first  things  to  which 
they  turned  their  attention  after  their  organization  as  a  body. 
Scarcely  had  Illinois  Presbytery  been  organized  before  we 
find  some  steps  taken  to  aid  candidates  for  the  ministry  in 
securing  an  education,  by  a  kind  of  "school  of  the  prophets" 
organized  on  a  small  scale.  Rev.  David  W.  McLin — who, 
perhaps  more  than  any  other  man,  gave  shape  to  the  early 
operations  of  the  Church  in  Illinois — founded  a  school  at  his- 
own  house  or  in  his  neighborhood,  where  he  taught  candi- 
dates for  the  ministry.  Rev.  J.  M.  Miller,  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Enfield,  where  Mr.  McLin  first  settled  and  taught 
this  school,  says:  "In  early  times  candidates  for  the 
ministry  boarded  free  with  families  here  and  were  taught  by 
Rev.  D.  W.  McLin.  Among  these  candidates  I  recollect  J. 
S.  Alexander,  B.  Bruce,  A.  F.  Trousdale,  N.  G.  Furguson, 
and,  I  believe,  Neiil  Johnson;  perhaps  Joel  Knight,  too." 
Mr.  Miller  adds :  "I  know  that  Neill  Johnson,  a  young 
minister,  dressed  himself  for  marriage  at  my  father's  house 
(James  Miller),  and  married  Miss  Rolofson."  Elder 
Alexander  Stewart,  of  Albion,  111.,  who  is  one  of  the  oldest 
elders  now  living  in  the  State,  says  in  a  letter  to  the  writer, 
that  "in  1824  James  Alexander,  Duke  Furguson,  Nimrod 
Furguson,  and  Alexander  Trousdale  studied  theology  under 
Mr.  McLin  that  winter."  For  several  years  this  was  all  the 
chance  for  a  school — to  go  to  a  select  school  in  Winter,  and 
to  study  theology  from  the  Bible  while  on  the  circuit,  with 
the  Hory  Spirit  as  teacher,  or  with  some  of  the  older 
ministers,  while  active  operations  in  preaching  and  camp- 
meetings  \vere"  kept  up. 


EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS.  123 

Rev.  J.  M.  Miller  informs  us  that  "Ewing  Seminary, 
founded  in  1843  under  the  care  of  Illinois  Presbytery,  and 
afterwards  transferred  to  Illinois  Synod,  was  in  active  opera- 
tion but  a  short  time."  Where  this  school  was  located  he 
does  not  say.  But  he  adds  that  "Enfield  High  School, 
located  at  Enfield,  111.,  chartered  in  1873,  under  the  care  of 
Ewing  Presbytery,  is  in  successful  operation  near  the  close 
of  its  fourth  year.  (The  year  is  now  closed. — ED.)  Prin- 
cipal, Prof.  J.  Turrentine ;  building,  brick ;  value,  about 
$6,000.'*  There  have  been  also  several  other  Seminaries  or 
High  Schools  started  and  operated  by  our  people  at  different 
periods  and  in  different  places.  Since  the  writer  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  State  (from  1855),  he  remembers  LeRoy 
Seminary,  at  LeRoy  ;  Stouts  Grove  Seminary,  Stouts  Grove  ; 
Cherry  Grove  Seminary,  at  Abingdon ;  Mt.  Zion  Seminary, 
at  Mt.  Zion  ;  Sullivan  Academy,  Sullivan  ;  and  Union  Col- 
lege, at  Virginia.  None  of  these  are  in  operation  now, 
except  the  High  School  at  Enfield.  All  these  seminaries  and 
the  college  did  a  good  work  in  their  time.  But,  where  the 
"free  school"  system  becomes  so  perfect  and  general  over  the 
State,  select  schools,  where  tuition  has  to  be  paid  and  no 
endowment  is  secured,  cannot  long  hold  out  in  competition 
with  the  common  schools  of  the  country.  LeRoy  and  Stouts 
Grove  Seminaries  were  both  under  the  supervision  of 
McAdow  Presbytery.  Stouts  Grove  was,  perhaps,  the  first 
Seminary  established  by  our  people  in  the  State,  We  ap- 
pend the  following  from  Rev.  J.  R.  Lowrance,  who  was  for 
years  pastor  of  the  church  at  Stouts  Grove,  as  a  reliable 
statement  concerning  these  schools  : 

STOUTS    GROVE    SEMINARY. 

"In  1849  the  citizens  of  Stouts  Grove  met  and  resolved  to 
establish  a  school  of  rTigh  order,  to  be  under  the  care  of 
Mackinaw  Presbytery,  the  citizens  appointing  five  trustees 
and  the  Presbytery  six.  These  trustees,  so  appointed,  met 


124  EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS. 

in  the  church  in  Stouts  Grove  on  Friday,  6  o'clock  P.  M., 
before  the  second  Sabbath  in  November,  1849.  Thus  this 
school  was  established,  and  continued  for  about  three  years, 
having  at  one  time  about  seventy  students.  Of  this  companv 
of  the  youth  of  that  school,  some  are  now  tilling  high  places 
in  the  Church  and  State.  The  present  Governor  of  Illinois, 
Hon.  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  was  one  of  those  pupils.  This 
school  was  under  the  management  of  Rev.  Cyrus  Haynes. 
Seven  of  these  students  were  candidates  for  the  ministrv. 

•/ 

LEROY    SEMINARY. 

"This  school  was  a  continuation  of  Stouts  Grove  Seminary, 
and  was  located  there  in  the  year  1852,  and  a  charter  was 
obtained  in  the  Winter  of  1853;  but  after  a  few  years  of 
toil  and  usefulness  it  closed  out  and  ceased  to  exist." 

SULLIVAN    ACADEMY, 

at  Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  count}-,  was  founded 
by  Rev.  James  Freeland,  a  graduate  of  Cumberland  Univer- 
sity. He  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  and,  in 
addition  to  preaching  every  Sabbath,  established  this 
Seminary  at  Sullivan  in  the  Fall  of  1851,  which  he  carried 
on  successfully  for  five  or  six  years.  He  died  April  27, 
1856,  greatly  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him.  The  Acad- 
emy, after  his  death,  fell  under  influences  not  favorable  to 
our  denomination.  But  it  existed  long  enough  to  do  a  valua- 
ble work. 

UNION    COLLEGE. 

In  the  Spring  of  1851  Sangamon  Presbyterv,  in  session  at 
Concord  church,  Menard  county,  took  steps  towards  found- 
ing an  academy  or  seminary  of  learning,  to  be  under  the 
control  of  the  Presbytery.  They  appointed  trustees,  who 
were  "empowered  to  receive  subscriptions,  select  the  location 
and  erect  the  house,  as  soon  as  they  may  receive  funds 
sufficient,  and  do  all  other  matters  and  things  pertaining 
thereto  :  and  report  to  the  Fall  session  of  this  Presbytery  of 


EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS.  125 

their  doings." — Minutes  of  Sangamon  Presbytery,  page  269. 
These  trustees  were  John  M.  Berry,  N.  H.  Downing,  A.  H. 
Goodpasture,  Elihu  Bone,  and  David  Blair.  At  the  Fall 
session  two  more  trustees  were  elected,  and. those  before 
appointed  reported  progress  :  that  a  sight  had  been  selected 
at  Virginia,  111.,  and  a  contract  for  material  for  a  suitable 
house  had  been  made.  In  short,  this  institution  was  started 
and  continued  with  encouraging  results  for  some  years.  It 
was  then  transferred  by  Sangamon  Presbytery  to  Sangamon 
Synod,  and  from  this  body  transferred  again  to  Sangamon 
and  Illinois  Synods,  each  Synod  having  an  equal  voice  in  its 
control,  and  also  being  equal  in  its  responsibilities.  A  new 
charter  was  obtained  from  the  Legislature,  and  henceforth 
it  was  called  no  longer  a  seminary,  but  Union  College.  For 
a  time  its  prospects  seemed  encouraging  ;  but  on  account  of 
misunderstandings  about  the  conditions  of  the  last  transfer, 
and  perhaps  other  things,  its  success  was  brief.  It  lived, 
however,  long  enough  to  do  a  good  work.  Some  able 
teachers  were  engaged  in  its  behalf.  At  one  time  Rev.  S. 
T.  Anderson,  late  missionary  to  Trinidad,  West  Indies, 
taught  there  ;  and,  although  it  was  discontinued  and  has  long 
since  ceased  to  be  used  for  an  institution  of  learning,  it  is 
believed  that  it,  and  similar  efforts  in  one  or  two  other 
places,  laid  the  foundation  for  the  final  grand  success  real- 
ized in  Lincoln  University. 

All  seeming  failures  are  not  failures,  after  all.  An 
institution  of  learning  is  never  a  failure.  Its  influences  for 
good  can  never  be  unavailing.  They  are  lasting  as  eternity. 
The  brick,  stone  or  wood  comprising  the  building  may  dec?y 
and  crumble  to  atoms  ;  misfortunes  may  involve  the  institution 
in  hopeless  confusion  and  certain  death  ;  but  the  influence  it 
has  exerted,  during  even  a  short  existence,  it  is  as  impossible 
to  blot  out  as  it  is  to  annihilate  the  sun.  At  the  time,  and 
under  the  circumstances,  the  effort  to  establish  Union  College 
was  a  noble  one,  the  good  effects  of  which,  we  doubt  not, 


126  EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS. 

will  be  seen  in  eternity,  although  it  did  not  accomplish  all  its 
friends  hoped  it  would.  If  we  mistake  not,  after  paying  the 
debts  of  the  College,  the  money  remaining  was  given  to  the 
University.  So  the  object  is  still  being  attained  for  which 
the  means  were  originally  contributed,  they  having  been 
transferred  to  a  different  locality. 

We  append  the  following  brief  notice  of 

MOUNT    ZION    SEMINARY 

from  the  pen  of  Rev.  N.  M.  Baker,  the  present  worthy 
Stated  Clerk  of  Decatur  Presbytery  : 

"Mount  Zion  Seminary  was  located  at  Mount  Zion,  within 
the  bounds  of  this  (Decatur)  Presbytery.  It  was  erected  by 
the  subscriptions  of  private  parties,  and  owned  and  controlled 
by  them  as  stock  holders  for  several  years.  It  was  then 
tendered  to  the  Presbytery  by  the  stock  holders,  and  was 
accepted  by  it  at  a  called  session  which  met  at  Mt.  Zion  Jan. 
3Oth,  1865.  The  Presbytery  made  several  attempts  to  endow 
this  institution,  which  were  unsuccessful,  and  it  finally  de- 
clined and  is  not  now  in  operation,  the  buildings  being  used 
for  district  school  purposes  under  a  lease  from  the  Presbytery. 
The  decline  of  this  school,  I  think,  was  occasioned,  not  by 
the  establishing  of  Lincoln  University,  nor  by  any  want  of 
energy  in  its  movement,  but  by  the  improvement  in  the  free 
school  system,  by  which  schools  of  equal  grade  were 
established  in  almost  all  the  villages  and  towns,  thus  cutting 
off  its  patronage,  and  really  removing  the  cause  for  its 
existence.  While  it  was  needed  it  accomplished  a  great 
work,  and  many  yet  live  and  labor  in  positions  of  usefulness 
who  will  ever  bless  the  public  spirit  and  liberality  of  its 
founders." 

LINCOLN    UNIVERSITY. 

The  history  of  education  in  Illinois  would  be  incomplete 
indeed  without  some  mention  of  Lincoln  University.  Al- 
though not  connected  with  the  very  early  struggles,  it  has 


EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS.  127 

played  no  insignificant  part  in  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  our  Church  in  the  State.  In  lieu  of  something  more 
definite,  we  quote  from  the  first  number  of  the  Alumni 
Journal  this  sketch,  written  by  the  facile  pen  of  Dr.  D.  M. 
Harris  : 

"Great  calamities  are  often  attended  by  great  blessings. 
'It  is  an  ill  wind  that  blows  nobody  good,'  is  an  adage  often 
verified  in  the  affairs  of  men.  During  our  great  national 
struggle  the  causes  that  led  to  the  origin  of  Lincoln  Univer- 
sity had  their  beginning.  In  those  dark  and  fearful  days 
of  our  national  and  political  history,  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Northwest  passed  through  a 
struggle  for  existence.  The  fearful  tide  of  war  that  swept 
over  the  South  threatened  to  overthrow  and  destroy  every 
enterprise  of  the  Church.  Our  colleges  and  seminaries 
suffered  in  a  marked  and  peculiar  manner,  resulting  in  the 
entire  suspension  of  all  active  operations.  In  the  Western 
States  the  denomination  had  planted  many  churches,  which 
were  suffering  for  the  want  of  ministers  to  supply  them.  The 
schools  of  the  Church  were  unable  to  meet  the  demand. 
Then  it  was  that  true  and  noble  men  began  to  reflect  upon 
the  future  of  the  Church  and  her  ministry,  and  tremblingly 
to  enquire,  'What  shall  we  do?'  It  seemed  almost  madness 
to  talk  of  founding  and  endowing  a  University.  The  minds, 
hearts,  lives,  and  riches  of  men  were  staked  upon  the  issues 
of  the  war.  But  genuine  faith  mocks  at  failure  and  laughs 
at  impossibilities.  Men  were  ready  to  embark  in  an  enter- 
prise of  great  moment,  with  omens  unpropitious  and  fates 
contrary.  Unfaltering  trust  in  the  promises  of  Providence 
and  a  firm  belief  in  the  mission  of  the  Church  were  all  that 
rendered  the  project  a  possibility,  at  such  an  unpropitious 
time. 

"As  far  as  we  are  able  to  learn,  the  proposition  to  establish 
a  college  for  the  Church  in  the  Northwest  originated  in  the 
Synod  of  Indiana.  Revs.  James  Ritchey  and  Elam  McCord 


128  EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS. 

were  among  the  first  to  advocate  the  enterprise.  There 
were  such  men  in  the  Synod  as  Azel  Freeman,  D.  D.,  Revs. 
A.  J.  Strain  and  Ephraim  Hall,  who  heartily  endorsed  the 
measure.  In  Illinois,  the  proposition  was  hailed  with  enthu- 
siasm. Among  the  most  earnest  workers  in  the  State  were 
Revs.  J.  R.  Brown,  D.  D.,  S.  Richards,  D.  D.,  A.  J. 
McGlumphy,  D.  D.,  J.  C.  Smith,  J.  C.  Van  Patten,  J.  H. 
Hughey,  James  White,  J.  G.  White,  and,  above  all,  J.  B. 
Logan.  In  Iowa,  Revs.  J.  R.  Lowrance  and  W.  F.  Baird 
stood  among  the  foremost  of  all.  There  were  many  laymen 
who  did  excellent  service  in  and  out  of  the  Synods. 

"When  the  Synods  had  fully  decided  to  begin  the  work,  a 
commission  of  five  persons  (one  from  each  Synod)  was 
appointed  to  receive  bids  for  the  location  of  the  institution, 
with  power  to  select  the  place.  The  places  competing  for 
the  location  of  the  institution  were  Newburgh,  Ind.  ;  Mt. 
Zion,  Cherry  Grove,  Virginia,  and  Lincoln,  111.  The  fol- 
lowing communication  from  the  citizens  of  Lincoln  will  be 
of  interest  to  many  : 

11  'LINCOLN,  ILL.,  October  I8tb,  1864. 

"  'WHEREAS,  The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  purpose  founding  a 
college  in  the  State  of  Illinois;  and,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  location 
of  said  college  at  the  town  of  Lincoln,  Logan  county,  Illinois,  or  within 
one-half  a  mile  of  the  corporate  limits  of  the  same,  we,  the  undersigned, 
severally  promise  and  agree  to  pay  to  John  Howser,  George  W.  Edgar, 

George  H.  Campbell,  Benjamin  H.  Brainerd  and  William  P.  Randolph,  all 

citizens  of  Logan  connty,  111.,  the  sum  set  opposite  our  respective  names,  to 
be  applied  in  the  erection  of  said  college  buildings,  PROVIDED  said  college  is 

located   as  aforesaid,   at    or    near    the    town    of    Lincoln,  Logan    county, 

Illinois.' 

"Then  follows  a  long  list  of  names,  with  a  subscription 
amounting  to  about  $25,000,  which  was  subsequently  con- 
siderably increased. 

"The  communication  then  adds: 

"  'The  young  and  flourishing  town  of  Lincoln,  as  well  as  the  young  and 
prosperous  county  of  Logan,  having  as  yet  no  institution  of  learning  of  a 
high  grade,  would  hail  with  joy  and  pride  the  location  of  your  college  at 


EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS.  129 

this  place,  and  would  take  a  lively  interest,  as  well  as  a  commendable  pride, 
in  fostering  and  endowing  the  institution:  and  the  college  would,  perhaps, 
meet  with  less  opposition  and  competition  here  than  at  any  other  point. 
GEO.  H.  CAMPBELL,  ) 
ROBT.  B.  LATHAM,    l  Committee.' 
JAMES  WHITE,          j 

"It  is  far  from  our  intention  to  neglect  mentioning  any 
whose  sen-ices  deserve  attention.  There  are  no  doubt  many 
whose  names  are  here  not  recorded,  whose  zeal  and  effi- 
ciency were  unsurpassed.  It  is  our  misfortune  to  know  but 
little  of  the  first  efforts  of  the  friends  of  the  college. 

"The  citizens  of  Lincoln  have  done  all  that  they  obligated 
themselves  to  do  :  and  we  feel  sure  that  the  sacrifices  made 
by  such  generous  men  as  Judge  G.  H.  Campbell,  George 
W.  Edgar  and  Abram  Mayfield,  in  superintending  the 
erection  of  the  building  and  in  securing  its  speedy  comple- 
tion, cannot  be  too  highly  appreciated  by  the  friends  abroad. 

"The  first  Faculty  consisted  of  Rev.  Azel  Freeman,  D.D., 
President;  Rev.  A.  J.  McGlumphy,  A.  M.,  Vice  President 
and  Professor  of  Mathematics  :  and  Joseph  F.  Latimer,  A. 
B.,  Professor  of  Natural  Science.  These  earnest  Christian 
teachers  are  entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  high  and 
honorable  code  of  morality  and  academical  character  of  the 
students  of  Lincoln  University.  To  them  was  committed 
the  important  duty  of  stamping  individuality  upon  the 
institution.  How  nobly  they  accomplished  their  task,  is 
known  to  all  who  have  any  knowledge  of  the  character  and 
standing  of  the  students  of  the  University. 

"To  no  man  more  than  to  Dr.  Freeman  is  the  University 
indebted  for  the  high  sense  of  honor  that  prevails  amorr^  the 
students.  His  generous,  broad  and  liberal  spirit;  his 
earnest,  constant  and  childlike  simplicity ;  his  pure,  deep 
and  zealous  piety ;  and  his  profound  and  comprehensive 
learning,  won  for  him  the  love  and  esteem  of  all  his  pupils 
and  co-laborers.  His  earnest  and  deep  Christian  character 
so  thoroughly  impressed  itself  upon  the  individuality  of  the 


130  EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS. 

college,  that  many  a  decade  will  not  efface  it.  After  serving 
the  institution  for  four  years  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all 
who  were  officially  connected  with  it,  he  retired  from  the 
Presidency  honored  and  loved. 

"Rev.  J.  C.  Bowdon,  D.  D.,  became  his  successor. 
During  Dr.  Bowdon's  administration  no  new  policy  of  anv 
importance  was  inaugurated.  He  found  the  institution  under 
a  good,  substantial  organization,  and  was  content  to  work 
out  the  plans  already  in  existence.  His  personal  suavity  and 
unbounded  generosity  made  him  a  universal  favorite.  He 
had  a  heart  and  a  hand  for  every  good  cause.  He  possessed 
a  liberal  and  general  culture  that  placed  him  among  the 
foremost  scholars  of  the  Church.  His  uniform  kindness,  his 
popular  address  and  his  sparkling  wit,  won  for  the  University 
many  ardent  admirers  and  liberal  patrons.  A  frail  body, 
urged  on  by  a  too  willing  spirit,  soon  yielded  to  the  powrer  of 
disease  ;  and  one  of  the  most  generous,  genial  souls  that 
ever  animated  human  dust  threw  aside  its  mortality,  and 
joined  the  ranks  of  the  blessed. 

"Rev.  A.  J.  McGlumphy,  D.  D.,  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  President  Bowdon.  Dr. 
McGlumphy's  eminent  success  as  a  teacher,  and  his  strict 
adherence  to  the  conservative  policy  of  our  older  and  more 
renowned  colleges,  guarantee  his  fitness  for  the  responsible 
station  he  fills.  His  positive  and  vigorous  mode  of  govern- 
ment:  his  firm  and  uncompromising  devotion  to  curriculum, 
and  his  fixed  determination  to  maintain  a  high  standard 
of  scholarship,  bespeak  for  him  the  confidence  and  the 
undivided  support  of  the  Church.  Under  his  administration, 
the  Church  may  confidently  look  for  the  speedy  removal  of 
any  imperfections  that  may  exist  either  in  discipline  or  schol- 
arship. It  is  not  said  to  the  disparagement  of  Dr. 
McGlumphy's  predecessors  that  the  college  breathes  a  more 
healthful  air  and  exhibits  a  more  vigorous  spirit  now  than 
ever  before." 


EDUCATIONAL    EFFORTS.  131 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  unexpected  death  of  the 
Editor  prevents  the  correction  of  any  inaccuracies  which 
may  be  in  the  foregoing  statement.  Doubtless  they  exist. 
There  is  good  reason  for  thinking  that  the  scheme  of  found- 
ing an  institution  of  learning  in  this  State  for  the  education 
of  our  rising  ministry  originated  with  the  Editor  himself. 
It  is  certain  that,  when  he  published  the  Western  Cumberland 
Presbyterian,  the  subject  was  discussed  by  him  editorially, 
and  its  importance  set  forth.  Rev.  J.  R.  Brown,  D.  D,, 
then  in  charge  of  Cherry  Grove  Seminary  at  Abingdon,  111., 
also  wrote  upon  the  subject  in  that  paper  under  the  signature 
"Omicron  ;"  and  to  these  two  men,  perhaps  more  than  to 
any  others,  is  the  Church  indebted  for  the  origin  of  the 
proposition  to  establish  Lincoln  University. 

A  suitable  financial  statement  is  also  lacking.  It  may  be 
well  to  say,  however,  that  the  University  is  in  a  sound  finan- 
cial condition,  and  has  an  endowment  of  about  $100,000. 
It  has  an  able  and  faithful  corps  of  instructors,  registers  a 
goodly  number  of  students,  and  has  few  superiors  in  point  of 
scholarship  in  the  West. 


MOTHERS    IN    ISRAEL. 

To  Rev.  Neill  Johnson  we  are  indebted  for  the  following 
sketch  of 

OLD    MOTHER    BARNES. 

"I  lirst  became  acquainted  with  this  lady  about  the  year 
1828.  She  was  the  wife  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and 
was  brought  into  the  Church  at  an  advanced  age.  She  and 
her  aged  companion  were  poor,  and  lived  mainly  on  a  pen- 
sion of  $8  per  month,  which  he  drew  for  his  Revolutionary 
services.  Unfortunately,  like  many  of  those  noble  old 
patriots,  he  was  considerably  intemperate.  Aside  from  this, 
he  was  a  patriotic,  dignified  old  man.  They  lived  six  miles 
from  the  place  of  my  regular  appointment,  and,  notwith- 
standing her  age,  she  was  always  present  at  my  appointments, 
performing  the  journey  on  foot.  At  a  certain  time  she  came 
to  me  with  a  silver  dollar.  'Here,'  says  she,  'Bro.  J.,  is  a 
dollar.  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  give  you  more,  but  it  is  all  I 
can  do  at  the  present.'  I  was  taken  considerably  by  sur- 
prise. I  said,  'Mother  Barnes,  excuse  me.  I  am  truly 
thankful  to  you  for  your  good  will,  but  you  need  this  money 
far  more  than  I  do.  Keep  it,  and  lay  it  out  for  some  of  the 
comforts  of  this  life  suitable  to  your  old  age.'  'No,  Bro. 
J.,'  said  she,  'I  have  already  received  greater  comfort  from 
those  precious  truths  that  you  preach  from  time  to  time  than 
any  thing  this  world  can  afford.'  While  I  still  hesitated  in 
taking  it  from  her,  she  said,  'I  shall  really  feel  hurt,  and 
think  hard  of  you,  if  you  do  not  lake  it.  To  this  last  appeal 
I  had  to  submit. 


MOTHERS    IN    ISRAEL.  133 

"At  that  day  a  silver  dollar  was  a  greater  amount,  in  many 
respects,  than  ten  dollars  would  be  to-day,  and,  considering 
the  person  and  the  circumstance  under  which  it  was  given,  I 
this  day  believe  that  our  blessed  Savior  will  reckon  it  to 
mother  Barnes  as  being  more  than  the  fifties  and  the  hun- 
dreds that  make  such  a  flourish  in  the  receipts  of  our  Boards . 
What  influence  the  giving  this  dollar  had  upon  the  giver  I 
am  not  prepared  to  say ;  but  the  influence  it  had  upon  the 
receiver  has  never  passed  away,  though  it  lacks  but  little  of 
half  a  century  since  it  took  place.  It  is  often  felt  as  follows  : 
Where  I  am  going  to  preach,  Lord,  to-day,  there  are  some 
of  thy  hungry  lambs.  I  have  come  entrusted  and  com- 
manded to  feed  them.  Shall  I  disappoint  them  and  send 
them  away  hungry?  The  responsibility  has  so  pressed  on 
me  that  it  tended  to  drive  me  to  a  throne  of  grace  for  help. 

"Dear  old  sister  Barnes  has  long  since  passed  from  her 
poverty,  toils  and  sorrows  to  a  rich  inheritance  in  her 
heavenly  father's  mansion,  and  perhaps  not  a  half  dozen  that 
were  once  associated  with  her  in  the  Church  militant  are  this 
side  of  the  river.  Her  remains  lie,  I  believe,  in  the  burying 
ground  in  Stouts  Grove,  and  perhaps  not  a  stone  tells  where 
she  lies  ;  but  God  looks  down,  and  will  watch  her  sleeping 
dust  till  he  shall  bid  it  rise." 

Richard  Beard,  D.  D.,  sends  this  sketch : 

MRS.    ANN    FOSTER. 

"Mrs.  Ann  Foster,  wife  of  Rev.  David  Foster,  was, 
before  her  marriage,  Miss  Ann  Beard.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Captain  David  Beard.  Her  mother's  original  name 
was  Isabel  Carson.  Her  father  and  mother  were  both 
Virginians.  Captain  Beard  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  and  bore  an  active  part  in  the  battle  of  Guilford 
Court  House  and  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  He  was,  I 
suppose,  a  native  of  Bedford  county,  in  Virginia,  as  I  have 
learned  from  the  family  history  that  his  father  lived  and  died 


134  MOTHERS    IN    ISRAEL. 

in  that  county,   and  I  have  never  been  able   to  tiace   the 
lineage  of  the  family  farther  up. 

"Captain  Beard  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  connected  in  Virginia  with  one  of  the  congregations  of 
Rev.  David  Rice,  who  afterwards  became  the  father  of 
Presbyterianism  in  Kentucky.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  doubtless  baptized  by  Mr. 
Rice.  Sometime  about  1784  her  father  moved  from  Virginia 
to  the  West,  and  made  his  final  settlement  in  Sumner  county, 
Tennessee,  about  six  miles  from  where  Gallatin  now  stands. 
He  and  his  family,  as  far  as  they  were  professors  of  religion, 
connected  themselves  with  Shiloh  congregation,  which  was 
successively  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Revs.  Thomas  B., 
Craighead,  William  McGee.  and  William  Hodge.  Shiloh 
became  historical  in  the  old  revival  of  1800.  That  work 
reached  the  congregation  early  in  the  century,  and  the 
pastor,  Mr.  Hodge,  became  one  of  its  most  active  supporters. 
In  that  revival  Captain  Beard  himself,  after  a  long  and  ter- 
rible experience  (in  the  course  of  which,  from  despair  of  his 
spiritual  condition's  ever  being  improved,  he  was  often  driven 
to  the  borders  of  suicide),  made  a  second  profession  of 
religion.  The  daughter,  Ann,  soon  became  an  earnest 
inquirer  for  what  had  come  to  seem  the  neiv  way.  She 
appears,  as  tradition  represents  her,  to  have  been  a  very 
thoughtful  young  woman.  She  was  hard  to  satisfy  with  her 
spiritual  condition,  and  had  a  long  and  doubtful  struggle  for 
such  evidences  of  a  spiritual  renewal  as  she  desired.  The 
writer  recollects  to  have  heard  her  say,  perhaps  more  than 
once,  that  at  one  of  the  camp-meetings  at  Shiloh,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  revival,  Mr.  Craighead  conversed  with  her  fre- 
quently, and  tried  to  convince  her  that  she  was  a  Christian. 
Her  own  account  of  the  matter  was,  that  she  knew  well 
enough  that  she  was  not.  The  good  man  was,  no  doubt, 
honest,  and  many  persons  would  have  accepted  his  decision, 
and  acted  upon  it ;  but  she  was  too  earnest  to  be  satisfied 


MOTHERS    IN    ISRAEL.  135 

with  a  shadow.  In  process  of  time,  however,  she  passed  out 
from  under  the  cloud.  It  was  a  real  transition — a  conversion 
characteristic  of  the  times.  There  never  was  a  more  earnest 
Christian  woman.  Her  influence  began  to  be  felt  immedi- 
ately, and,  considering  her  social  position,  it  was  evidently 
to  a  wide  extent. 

"Her  marriage  to  Mr.  Foster  was  a  marriage,  as  I  used  to 
hear  it  mentioned  in  our  family,  based  upon  Christian 
principles.  I  have  heard  old  Mr.  Foster,  too,  the  father  of 
David  Foster,  speak  of  it.  He  was  one  of  the  best  of  old 
men.  David  Foster  had  just  fairly  entered  the  ministry. 
He  thought  of  marrying,  but  times  were  stormy.  He  had 
taken  a  stand  with  what  became  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  But  their  prospects  were  very  dark.  There 
were  pressing  calls  for  preaching,  but  the  preachers  had  no 
encouragement.  He  consulted  his  father  on  the  subject  of 
his  thoughts.  The  good  old  man  admitted  the  darkness  of 
the  prospect,  was  not  sure  that  a  young  preacher,  under  such 
circumstances,  ought  to  marry,  but  decided,  if  his  mind  was 
to  marry,  that  there  was  one  woman  who  would  suit  him, 
and  that  to  a  marriage  with  her  he  could  give  his  cordial 
consent.  That  woman  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The 
families  were  neighbors,  and  well  acquainted.  They  were 
in  mutual  sympathy  on  the  subject  of  religion.  It  was  a 
"marriage  in  the  Lord."  Rev.  William  Hodge  was  the 
officiating  minister.  It  was  the  first  marriage  that  the  writer 
ever  witnessed.  It  occurred  far  back  in  his  early  boyhood. 
Mr.  Foster  bought  a  little  farm  and  settled  near  his  father  in 
Sumner  county. 

"In  the  course  of  a  very  few  years — two  or  three,  perhaps — 
he  was  called  to  the  charge  of  some  congregations  in  Wilson 
county.  He  moved  and  settled  in  Suggs'  Creek  congrega- 
tion. Here  the  real  work  of  his  life  and  of  that  of  his  wife 
commenced.  He  preached  to  three  congregations  about  nine 
months  in  the  year,  and  the  other  three  months  were  spent, 


136  MOTHERS    IN    ISRAEL. 

according  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  in  attending  camp- 
meetings.  These  often  took  him  far  from  home,  and 
sometimes  three  or  four  weeks  in  succession.  The  wife  had 
the  burden  of  the  home  to  bear.  She  was  always  frail,  yet 
she  administered  the  affairs  of  her  household  with  a  patience, 
an  earnestness  and  a  heroism  which  deserved  the  crown  of 
martyrdom.  I  was  accustomed  occasionally  to  spend 
months  in  succession  at  her  house,  and  I  have  no  recollection 
of  ever  seeing  a  hired  female  domestic  in  her  family.  Indeed, 
for  some  years  her  house  was  a  sort  of  second  home,  and 
she  was  a  sort  of  second  mother  to  me.  I  was,  therefore, 
well  acquainted  with  her  burdens,  and  the  manner  in  which 
she  bore  them.  At  one  time,  in  the  latter  part  of  1824,  I 
was  in  an  almost  hopeless  state  of  health,  and  retreated  to 
Mr.  Foster's  for  rest  and  recuperation  for  a  while.  In  the 
time  under  medical  direction,  a  portion  of  calomel  brought 
on  one  of  the  worst  cases  of  salivation  that  I  ever  witnessed. 
My  good  aunt  was  my  nurse,  and  she  was  indefatigable  in 
her  attentions.  By  day  or  by  night,  when  necessary,  she 
was  at  my  bed-side,  ready  to  afford  what  relief  was  possible. 
All  this,  too,  was  in  addition  to  her  own  household  cares. 

"After  Mr.  Foster  moved  to  Illinois,  I  think  I  never  saw 
his  wife.  In  addition  to  his  removal  my  own  line  of  life 
changed.  From  being  a  traveling  preacher  I  was  driven,  by 
a  failure  of  health,  to  the  school  room,  and  of  course  was 
very  much  confined.  Of  her  latter  days,  therefore,  I  knew 
nothing.  I  have  no  doubt,  however,  that  they  were  the  days 
of  an  earnest  Christian  woman.  It  could  scarcely  have  been 
otherwise. 

"There  was  one  feature  in  Mrs.  Foster's  religious  life  which 
was  too  prominent  and  too  distinctly  marked  to  be  overlooked 
in  a  sketch  like  this.  She  sometimes,  as  long  as  I  knew 
her,  under  the  influence  of  high  religious  exciterr.ent,  would 
break  silence,  and  not  merely  shout  aloud,  but  exhort  her 
friends  and  by-standers.  Her  exhortations,  too,  were  not 


MOTHERS    IN    IRSAEL.  137 

the  mere  incoherent  ravings  of  an  unbridled  imagination,  but 
they  were  conceived  and  expressed  with  an  astonishing 
degree  of  correctness.  Ordinarily  she  was  a  woman  of  few 
words,  and  her  intelligence  was  not  above  what  might  have 
been  expected  in  a  woman  raised  as  she  was,  and  having  the 
limited  advantages  in  future  life  which  she  had ;  but  on  the 
occasions  of  which  I  speak  she  always  transcended  herself. 
The  people  sometimes  said  that  when  she  threw  aside  her 
respect  for  the  rules  of  order  she  was  a  better  preacher  than 
her  husband.  The  hearer  involuntarily  lost  sight  of  the 
irregularity  of  the  proceeding  under  the  influence  of  tender 
and  powerful  appeals  in  behalf  of  the  truth.  Her  case,  how- 
ever, was  not  an  isolated  one.  We  had  other  mothers  in 
Israel  who  threw  themselves  as  earnestly  and  as  decidely 
into  the  great  work  of  the  times.  We  witnessed  without 
offiense  these  outpourings  of  earnest  hearts,  which,  we  were 
satisfied  from  other  sources,  were  right  in  the  sight  of  God. 
I  suppose  myself  that  the  Savior  accepted  them  upon  the 
same  principle  that  led  him  to  the  acceptance  of  the  hosan- 
nahs  of  the  multitude  at  the  descent  of  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
when  he  replied  to  the  murmuring  Pharisees,  'I  tell  you  that 
if  these  should  hold  their  peace,  the  very  stones  would 
immediately  cry  out.' 

"Let  it  not  be  said  that  I  have  become  an  advocate  for 
irregularities  and  disorders  in  the  house  of  God.  I  acknow- 
ledge the  authority  of  Paul  in  its  fullest  sense.  We  all 
acknowledge  the  necessity  and  authority  of  general  rules  ; 
yet  it  sometimes  happens  that  the  very  interest  and 
expressiveness  of  a  proceeding  arise,  in  a  great  measure, 
from  its  departure  from  all  rules,  and  from  its  overlooking 
all  precedents.  I  place  the  proceedings  which  I  have  men- 
tioned in  this  category. 

"It  affords  me  great  satisfaction  to  be  thus  able,  even  at 
this  late  day,  to  render  a  tribute,  however  imperfect,  to  the 
memory  of  one  of  the  best  Christian  women  that  I  ever 


1.-P  M^'   HERS    IN    ISRAEL. 

knew,   and   of  one   of  the  best  and  sincerest  friends  of  my 
youth  and  early  manhood." 

We  are  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Rev.  P.  H.  Crider  for 
this  sketch  of 

MRS.    MARY   ANN   WILSON. 

"Mary  Ann  Wilson  was  born  January  3Oth,  1788.  She 
removed  from  East  Tennessee  to  Macon  county,  Illinois, 
about  the  year  1830.  Mrs.  Wilson  was  an  exemplary  and 
faithful  Christian,  and  a  devoted  friend  and  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  to  the  day  of  her  death. 
I  am  told  by  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Nancy  Wilson,  who  lives 
near  Decatur,  that  she,  during  the  latter  years  of  her  life, 
could  not  be  satisfied  without  going  back  occasionally  to 
attend  meeting  at  Mt.  Zion,  her  early  church  home,  although 
she  lived  several  miles  away.  An  excellent  sister  living  in  Mt 
Zion  tells  me  that  Aunt  'Polly  Wilson,'  as  she  was  generally 
known,  told  her,  a  short  time  before  her  death,  that  she  had 
never  failed  to  attend  the  camp  and  protracted  meetings  at 

Mt.  Zion  for  forty-one   years,   except  in  on£  single  instance. 

*  •~fy-'' "'"  •••-'••?••  •" 

This,  of  course,  embraced   every  year  in  the   history  of  the 

church  from  its  organization. 

"The  following  are  the  names  of  her  chil'dren  :  i.  Thos. 
B.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  was  born  July  26th,  1807,  an^  died  July, 
1873.  He  went  from  Tennessee  to  Alabama,  and  from  there 
to  Texas.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church  at  Marshall,  Texas,  at  the  time  of  his  death.  2. 
Alexander  McClure  Wilson  was  born  May  6ih,  1809,  and  is 
still  living  and  preaching  in  Kansas.  3.  Eliza  D.  Wilson 
was  born  April  i5th,  1811,  and  died  Sept.  13,  1815.  4. 
Katherine  Wilson  was  born  in  1816,  and  died  Jan.  7,  1855. 
5.  Nancy  Wilson,  now  living.  6.  John  A.  Wilson  was  born 
Jan.  9,  1819,  and  died  Dec.  18,  1821.  7.  James  J.  Wilson 
was  born  November  12,  1822,  and  died  April  28th,  1854,  at 
Princeton,  Ky.,  only  a  few  weeks  before  he  was  to  graduate 


MOTHERS    IN    ISRAEL.  139 

in  Cumberland  College.     One  son  died  in  infancy,  and  all 
the  other  sons  became  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

"This  excellent  mother  in  Israel,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Wilson, 
died  September  17,  1872,  being  84  years,  7  months  and  17 
days  old.  Her  remains  were  deposited  by  the  side  of  her 
huiband  in  the  cemetery  at  Mt.  Zion.  While  we  say,  Peace 
to  her  ashes,  her  memory  will  not  be  forgotten  by  many  of 
the  present  generation  living  in  the  community  of  Mt.  Zion. 
She  formerly  lived  at  Mt.  Zion,  and  the  ground  on  which  the 
church,  the  cemetery,  and  the  academy  building  were 
located,  was  obtained  from  the  tract  of  land  that  belonged  to 
her  husband,  but  is  now  owned  by  S.  K.  Smith." 


*ofr 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

REV.  W.  W.  M.  BARBER,  of  Windsor,  111.,  has  furnished 
this  sketch  of  his  father, 

REV.  JOHN    BARBER,  SEN. 

"Rev.  John  Barber,  Sen.,  was  born  in  Lincoln  county, 
N.  C.,  Jan.  i5th,  1780.  His  father  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  His  name  was  also  John,  which  ap 
peared  to  be  a  favorite  name,  as  it  has  been  perpetuated  in 
the  family.  His  mother's  name  is  not  now  remembered. 
Mr.  Barber's  parents  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  he  was  raised  up  in  that  faith  and  became  a 
member  in  his  i6th  year.  He  was  the  subject  of  the  revival 
that  began  in  North  Carolina  in  1796,  and  culminated  so 
powerfully  in  1800,  out  of  which  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  emanated. 

"In  early  life  he  became  greatly  exercised  for  the  salva- 
tion of  sinners ;  was  active  in  religious  meetings,  and  would 
frequently  give  public  exhortations.  He  was  thus  early  in 
life  impressed  with  reference  to  preaching  the  gospel.  His 
way  seemed  hedged  up  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  from 
two  considerations  :  First,  his  education  was  limited,  though 
he  possessed  some  advantages  over  many  others.  He  had  a 
good  common  education,  and  when  only  sixteen  years  of  age 
was  employed  in  teaching  school.  While  he  made  no 
pretention  to  much  education,  yet  he  had  given  some 
attention  to  Latin,  besides  the  common  branches  of  the  day. 
He  also  had  serious  objections  to  the  doctrine  of  fatality,  as 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  14! 

taught  in  the  Westminster  Confession,  and,  being  poor,  he 
did  not  feel  that  he  could  obtain  that  amount  of  educa- 
tion that  would  commend  him  to  the  Presbyterian  pulpit. 
He  settled  down,  and,  when  quite  young,  married.  But  this 
did  not  relieve  his  mind  on  the  subject  of  preaching  the 
gospel.  He  tried  to  stifle  his  feelings  ;  and  in  this  state  of 
mind  in  the  year  1815  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Madison  county,  near  Edwardsville,  the  county  seat.  In  the 
neighborhood  where  he  settled  there  were,  including  himself , 
three  elders,  and  about  twenty  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  Barber  had  been  ordained  an  elder  before 
leaving  North  Carolina.  His  impressions  to  preach  became 
more  intense,  and,  finding  that  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Confession  of  Faith  only  made  a  good  English  education 
indispensable  in  order  to  enter  the  ministry,  he,  in  the  forty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age,  was  sent  as  a  representative  from  Mt. 
Gilead  society  to  the  second  session  of  Illinois  Presbytery, 
which  met  at  New  Salem,  Gallatin  county,  111.,  Oct.  i4th, 
1823,  at  which  meeting  he  became  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry.  Mr.  Barber  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  as 
a  probationer  for  the  holy  ministry  April  pth,  1824,  at  the 
house  of  James  Johnson,  Mt.  Gilead,  Bond  county,  111.  He 
was  ordained  to  the  whole  work  of  the  gospel  ministry  at  the 
house  of  Joseph  Robison,  Madison  county,  111.,  Thursday 
after  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  1826,  having  been  a  licentiate 
two  years.  Mr.  Barber  was  respected  as  a  good  Christian 
man  and  citizen,  a  man  of  considerable  reading  and  extensive 
knowledge.  He  had  been  called  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  fill 
civil  offices,  and  for  a  number  of  years  filled  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace. 

"Possessing  a  strong  mind  and  having  some  ambition, 
after  joining  Presbytery  he  made  rapid  progress  in  scientific 
pursuits,  so  that  in  six  months  after  his  reception  as  a  candi- 
date he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  went  heartily  into  the 
work.  From  his  journal  we  learn  that  he  had  occasional 


142  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

seasons  of  gloom  and  discouragements.  The  remarks,  after 
telling  where  and  from  what  text  he  had  preached,  were  very 
dissimilar  from  each  other  on  different  occasions.  At  one 
time  he  said,  'I  had  light,  liberty,  power ;  people  feeling ;'  at 
another  time  he  said,  'I  had  no  light,  no  liberty,  no  heat,  no 
power;  dull  myself;  people  dull.'  At  one  time  large  con- 
gregations, again  few  or  none,  were  present.  At  one  time 
he  was  much  encouraged ;  at  other  times  discouraged,  and 
tempted  to  quit  preaching. 

"What  he  received  for  preaching,  and  from  whom  and 
when,  were  faithfully  kept  in  his  journal.  His  report  to  the 
Fall  Presbytery  of  1830  will  show  something  of  the  work 
performed  and  the  amount  received.  He  says,  'I  would  beg 
leave  to  report  to  Presbytery,  that  I  have  preached  one  hun- 
dred and  two  sermons  since  last  Presbytery ;  have  baptized 
one  adult  and  twelve  infants.  I  have  organized  one  church 
with  thirteen  members,  which  were  received  by  letter,  and 
have  received  four  or  five  members  by  experience  in  the 
bounds  of  my  particular  labors.  I  have  spent  one  hundred 
and  eight  week  days,  including  the  time  spent  in  attending 
the  judicatures  of  the  Church,  and  have  received  $4.50,  $3 
of  which  were  given  by  the  ministers  to  defray  my  expenses 
to  the  General  Assembly.  I  have  attended  six  camp- 
meetings  and  twelve  two-days'  meetings.  At  our 
camp-meetings,  and  other  places  where  I  have  labored, 
I  have  an  account  of  fifty-three  who  have  professed  religion. 
The  calls  for  ministerial  labor  are  increasing,  and  many  of 
them  come  from  persons  who  are  members  of  our  Church, 
but  are  now  living  far  from  where  they  can  hear  a  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  voice.  I  cannot  see  how  these  calls  are  to 
be  met,  unless  we  have  itinerant  preachers.  But  preachers 
cannot'live  on  the  wind,  and  there  appears  to  be  but  little 
prospect  of  any  measures  by  which  they  can  be  supported. 
There  is  a  fault  among  Cumberland  Presbyterians  on  this 
subject,  and  if  there  is  not  something  done  soon,  if  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  143 

gospel  does  not  sink,  Cumberland  Presbyterianism  must  and 
will  sink.  But  I  desist.' 

"In  a  report  prior  to  this  the  amount  of  work  was  some- 
thing similar,  the  amount  received  was  one  dollar,  and  the 
distance  traveled  about  eighty  miles  per  month.  About  this 
time  was  a  gloomy  period  in  the  history  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  one  who  left  it  boasted  that  there 
would  be  a  general  stampede.  While  there  were  induce- 
ments held  out,  none  but  poor  Ogden  left  with  him  (Smith). 

"Mr.  Barber  was  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance,  and 
was  the  first  in  his  neighborhood  to  dispense  with  the  use  of 
liquor  at  meetings  for  work.  When  he  invited  his  friends  to 
assist  him  in  his  work,  he  informed  them  that  he  was  not 
going  to  furnish  ardent  spirits  on  the  occasion.  Many  said 
they  would  not  help  ;  but  they  had  respect  for  his  conscien- 
tious convictions,  and  he  experienced  no  difficulty.  By  his 
boldness  he  set  an  example  that  was  followed  by  his  neigh- 
bors. He  often  lectured  on  temperance,  and  made  overtures 
in  private  to  such  as  he  considered  in  danger  of  being  injured 
by  strong  drink.  Once,  three  or  four  young  men,  that  he 
had  admonished  to  quit  drinking,  agreed  that  they  would 
quit  if  he  would  quit  the  use  of  tobacco.  On  mature  and 
prayerful  reflection  he  accepted  the  proposition.  In  a  few 
months  afterwards  they  inquired  how  he  got  along.  He 
confessed  that  it  went  hard  with  him  to  do  without  his 
tobacco.  They  proposed  to  mutually  withdraw  from  their 
pledges.  He  declined  their  offer.  Those  young  men  lived 
orderly  and  sober  lives. 

"Mr.  Barber  had  an  ardent  love  for  souls,  and  up  to  within 
a  short  period  before  his  death  he  traveled  some  forty  miles 
or  more  to  visit  churches  that  he  had  planted.  His  last  visit 
to  Madison  county,  where  he  first  settled,  was  attended  with 
difficulty,  from  an  affliction  in  his  limbs  affecting  him  to  such 
an  extent  that  he  sometimes  sat  and  preached.  He 
preached  six  times  during  this  visit,  and  spoke  of  it  with 


144  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

tears  as  his  last  visit.  A  short  time  after  this,  in  a  letter  to 
his  son,  Dr.  Barber,  he  says  :  'I  have  kept  up  my  regular 
appointments,  but  feel  like  giving  them  up.  I  am  always 
extremely  tired  on  Sabbath  evenings. 

I  look  forward  with  joy  to  that  sweet  rest  which  is  just  before 
me,  and  will  be  given  me,  when  the  toils  of  life  are  over,  by 
my  blessed  Redeemer.     These  thoughts  cheer  my  soul  often 
in  view  of  my  final  end.     The  thought  of  that  rest  makes  me 
feel  that  no  affliction  here  is  worth  a  thought  when  compared 
with  the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed  ;    and  the  thought  of 
winning  souls  to  Jesus  seems  more  than  all  my  toils.     I  have 
frequently  thought  that,  if  I  had  my  choice  when  and  where 
to  die,  it  would  be  to   die  in  the  pulpit  entreating  sinners  to 
come  to  Jesus.     But  I  will  leave  the  when,  and  the  where, 
and  the  how  I  shall  bid  the  world  adieu,  to  him  who  has 
bought  me  with  his  own  blood,  and  who,  I  hope,  will  be 
glorified  in  me,  whether  by  life  or  death.     As  long  as  I  can 
speak  intelligently,  and  can  reach  the  assembly  who  meet  to 
worship  God,  I  will  endeavor  to  preach  Jesus  and  him  cruci- 
fied, the  way,  the  truth  and  the  life.' 

"In  another  letter  to  the  same,  he  alludes  to  the  infirmities 
of  old  age  in  strains  of  a  true  Christian  philosopher.  He 
says :  'I  suppose  that  you  feel  by  this  time  somewhat  as  I 
did  before  I  received  yours  of  the  ipth  of  December :  that  I 
am  either  dead,  sick,  careless,  lazy,  busy,  or  something  else. 
The  first  two  and  the  last  of  the  above  charges  have  not 
befallen  me  yet,  but  the  other  two,  I  fear,  stick  as  close  as 
the  skin.  You  will  doubtless  perceive  by  my  awkward 
letters  that  the  old  fingers  are  beginning  to  threaten  disobe- 
dience, and  if  they  refuse  partial  or  total  obedience,  I  have 
no  remedy.  All  the  old  joints  seem  to  threaten  the  same, 
and  if  they  combine  they  will  certainly  conquer,  for  the  last 
seventy-four  years'  wear  and  tear  will  much  facilitate  the 
conquest.  But  what  will  be  conquered?  Blood,  bones, 
sinews,  flesh  and  nerves  are  not  me.  Life — what  is  it? 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  145 

where  is  it?  'T  is  not  in  the  head  and  heart  alone,  but  it  is 
in  the  end  of  every  finger  and  toe,  and  every  other  part  of 
my  system  ;  and  yet  I  cannot  fully  describe  or  understand  it. 
With  the  Psalmist  I  must  exclaim  :  I  am  fearfully  and  won- 
derfully made.' — Ps.  clix.  14. 

"Mr.  Barber  was  married  four  times — twice  before 
leaving  North  Carolina  and  twice  in  Illinois.  He  had  four 
children  by  his  first  wife  and  four  by  the  last.  Of  the  first 
family  all  are  dead.  Each,  however,  lived  to  have  a  family 
of  his  own. 

"The  last  sermon  Mr.  Barber  preached  was  at  old  Mount 
Pleasant  church,  about  six  weeks  previous  to  his  death. 
The  text  was  Romans  iii.  20.  He  died  Sept.  19,  1855,  in 
his  ydth  year.  He  is  buried  in  Bear  Creek  graveyard, 
Montgomery  county,  111." 

It  was  our  privilege  to  see  Mr.  Barber  and  hear  him 
preach  several  times.  He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary 
strength  of  mind,  and  had  the  happy  faculty  of  stating  his 
views  clearly  and  in  few  words.  We  visited  him  and  passed 
a  night  with  him  during  his  last  sickness.  He  was  calm  and 
resigned,  and  looking  out  momentarily  for  the  Master  to  call 
for  him.  He  was  unusually  beloved,  and  his  death  greatly 
lamented. 

REV.    DAVID    WILSON   M'LIN. 

No  iran  connected  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Illinois,  all  things  considered,  acted  the  part 
which  this  father  did  in  establishing  the  Church  on  Illinois 
soil.  It  is  strange,  and  sad,  too,  that  a  fitting  tribute  to  his 
memory  has  not  been  long  since  published.  We  feel  that 
the  data  now  within  reach  is  so  defective,  that  it  is  impossible 
to  do  justice  to  the  self-sacrificing  toil  of  this  indomitable 
and  successful  minister  of  Jesus.  It  was  not  our  privilege  to 
meet  with  him,  but,  what  is  perhaps  better,  we  have  met 
with  his  mighty  influence,  or  rather  the  influence  of  our  holy 
religion  through  his  instrumentality,  over  all  our  Church 


146  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

territory  in  Illinois.  Everywhere  we  meet  the  saving  influ- 
ence of  his  life  and  noble  character.  Whether  we  traverse 
the  country  and  talk  with  the  "old  settlers,"  or  read  the 
records  of  Presbyteries  and  Synods,  the  name  of  D.  W. 
McLin  stands  pre-eminent  over  all  others.  We  are,  there- 
fore, glad  of  the  privilege  to  do  at  least  a  little  toward 
redeeming  from  oblivion  a  character  and  life  that  ought  to  be 
ever  held  sacred  by  all  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  The 
following  touching  letter  from  his  youngest  daughter  in 
Sherman,  Texas,  will  be  read  with  interest: 

"I,  being  the  youngest  of  the  family,  have  no  recollection 
of  ever  seeing  my  father,  and  can  only  very  indistinctly  re- 
member my  mother ;  but  I  do  revere  and  love  their  names, 
and  feel  to  ask  the  blessing  of  God  upon  any  one  who  may 
wish  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  my  sainted  father.  I  will 
give  a  few  items  in  reference  to  his  early  history,  which  may 
be  of  some  importance.  Having  lived  the  greater  part  of 
my  life  away  from  my  older  sisters  and  brothers,  I  have  had 
but  little  chance  to  know  much  of  my  parents'  history. 

"My  father,  David  Wilson  McLin,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  December  24th,  1785.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  His  parents,  James  and  Catherine  McLin,  moved 
from  North  Carolina  to  Middle  Tennessee  when  he  was 
quite  young.  They  were  of  the  Presbyterian  faith.  Father 
was  a. convert  of  the  revival  of  1800.  His  early  education,  I 
think,  was  limited,  but,  from  what  I  have  been  told,  he  was 
a  life  student.  He  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  and  at  times 
during  his  whole  life  worked  at  his  trade,  when  in  need  of 
means  of  support  for  his  family.  He  often  came  home  after 
being  away  preaching  for  days,  and  sat  up  all  night  working 
so  as  to  leave  the  means  of  subsistence  for  his  family  while 
on  another  missionary  tour,  though  never  neglecting  the  work 
of  his  Master.  He  was  received  as  a  candidate  for  the  min- 
istry March  10,  1810,  with  Robert  Donnell,  Robert  McCorkle, 
William  Bumpass  and  William  Barnett. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  147 

"He  remained  in  Tennessee,  riding  and  preaching,  until 
the  division  of  Cumberland  Presbytery ;  then  he  joined 
Logan  Presbytery.  He  preached  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee 
until  sent  out  as  a  missionary  to  Illinois  by  the  Western  Mis- 
sionary Board,  of  Kentucky,  which,  from  his  journal,  seems 
to  have  been  in  either  1819  or  1820. 

"He  was  married  in  1812  near  Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  to 
Nancy  Johnson  Porter,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
Porter.  She  was  born  in  Virginia.  Her  parents  moved  to 
Kentucky  when  she  was  a  child,  and  settled  near  Hopkins- 
ville. They  were  Baptists,  but  she  was  not  a  member  of  any 
Church  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  She  professed 
religion  soon  afterwards  and  joined  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church. 

"Father  died  in  Fairfield,  111.,  in  the  Fall  of  1836.  His 
disease  was  dyspepsia.  He  was  a  great  sufferer  a  long 
while  before  he  died,  but  continued  to  ride  and  preach  as 
long  as  he  could  sit  on  his  horse,  and  even  after  he  had  to 
be  helped  into  his  saddle  from  weakness.  Just  before  his 
death  he  was  making  preparations  to  attend  a  camp-meeting 
a  few  miles  from  where  he  lived.  He  directed  all  arrange- 
ments himself.  He  had  his  camp  built  near  the  pulpit  where 
he  could  lie  in  his  bed  and  enjoy  the  meeting ;  but  before 
the  time  for  the  meeting  came  on  he  grew  worse.  As  death 
approached,  he  called  his  wife  and  children  around  him  ; 
bade  each  one  an  affectionate  farewell ;  advised  the  older 
ones  in  reference  to  their  spiritual  interest  and  their  mother's 
welfare  ;  and  then,  as  might  have  been  expected  from  the 
life  he  had  lived,  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  calmly  fall  asleep 
in  Jesus.  After  his  death  it  was  soon  ascertained  that  com- 
paratively nothing  was  left  for  the  support  of  his  family. 
The  church  then  bought  a  place  near  Fairfield,  and  gave  it 
to  mother,  at  which  she  remained  till  her  death,  she  and  her 
older  daughters  supporting  themselves  and  the  younger 
children  by  their  own  exertions, 


148  HIO<;KAPHK  AI.. 


"Mother  died  hi  the  Winter  of  IN^S  ol  pneumonia.    She 

in  unassuming  quiet  Christian,  of  a  sweet,  gentle  dispo- 
sition. She  h;ul  a  tirni  and  abiding  faith  in  her  Savior,  and 
just  before  her  death  expressed  the  belief  that  her  children 
would  be  taken  eare  of.  Since  then  we  have  been  a  broken, 
scattered  family,  yet  the  Lord  of  the  orphan,  whom  our 
parents  loved  and  trusted,  has  kindly  provided  for  and  taken 
care  of  each  and  every  one  of  us.  Although  we,  as  a 
familv,  have  been  separated  the  greater  part  of  our  lives,  we 
have  the  blessed  hope  of  meeting  again  a  happv,  unbroken. 
re-united  family  in  heaven.  Only  four  of  us  are  living  now. 
All  the  rest  have  passed  through  the  'pearly  gates,'  and  are 
now  waiting  and  watching  for  those  of  us  left  behind." 

The  following  sketch  is  from  our  worthy  brother,  Rev. 
J.  M.  Miller,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Enfield,  111.,  and  who 
knows  whereof  he  writes  : 

"In  1815  he  was  examining  committee  when  John  Provine 
\\.is  licensed.  He  organized  Dry  Fork  church,  Middle 
Tennessee,  in  the  Winter  of  1817,  where,  on  October  7th, 
1850,  his  youngest  daughter,  N.  L.  McLin,  was  converted 
to  God.  He  organi/ed  Milage  church,  White  county.  111., 
in  the  Fall  of  1819;  Shiloh  church  at  Burnt  Prairie.  Nov. 
22,  1821  ;  the  church  at  McLeansboro,  I  think  :  one  near 
Shawneetovvn  :  think  he  organized  Union  church  in  White 
county  :  Fairlield  and  Thorn's  Prairie  churches  in  Wayne 
county  :  and  New  Pleasant  congregation  in  (lallatin  county. 
About  1829  he  moved  to  Kquality,  (jallatin  county  :  in  1831 
to  Burnt  Prairie,  White  county:  in  1832  to  Fairlield.  Wayne 
county. 

"At  his  death  he  left  a  \\ite,  six  living  daughters  and  three 
vons.  one  son  (Finis  Kwing)  having  died  July  i^.  1^25,  at 
the  age  of  1.4  months  and  .'5  davs.  All  his  children  who 
grew  to  adult  years  became  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Preshvterian  Church,  except,  perhaps,  one.  His  fameua* 
not  only  in  all  the  churches,  but  in  all  this  countn  .  Mr.  A. 


I    |0 

Stcuart,    an    a^nl    elder    in    the     Cumberland     IVesln  u-rian 

church  in  Albion,  111.!  soon  alter  his  arrival  froin  Scotland) 

heard  him  preach  in  Carmi,  White  county  .  While  the  youni; 
Scotchman  inueh  admired  the  speaker  and  the  sermon,  he 
thought  it  strange  to  see  a  minister  in  a  mixed  jeans  suit  ! 
With  salety  it  may  In-  said,  the  1'ruit  ot'  early  labor  is  not  only 
abundant  here,  but  main  ,  tollo\\in;;  the  tide  ot  emigration, 
went  North  ami  West  iij  this  State,  ami  into  lo\va,  Oregon, 
Colorado,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  some  to  Missouri,  and  some  to 

Texas, 

••Kev.  McLin  \vas  present  at  the  first  meeting  ot  Illinois 
Synod,  Mt.  (iilead  church,  liond  county,  111.,  Oct.  11,  i 
At  that  time  he,  J.  S.  Alexander,  Jesse  IVarce  and  Riehanl 
Harris  were  the  members  ot  Illinois  lYeslnterv.  Within  the 
same  ten  itoi  \  are  Illinois,  ICwiiii;  and  MeLin  Presbyteries, 
with  about  30  ordiined  ministers,  and  85  or  90  or^ar 
churches.  The  Presbyterian  Church  was  or<;ani/.ed  here 
lu-toie  Mr.  McLin  came.  Two  ot  my  uncles  wen-  elders. 
My  father,  James  Miller,  ami  one  uncle,  James  M\s,  became 
elders  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  both  possess- 
ing about  equal  chances.  The  growth  ot  the  Cumberlaiul 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  same  territory,  numericalK  ,  is 
about  ten  fold  greater,  indicating  /eal,  and  doctrine  that 
commends  itself. 

"His  mission  work,  I  think,  often  look  him  to  Shoal 
Creek,  Hi-;-  Muddy  ami  Silver  Creek,  as  the  names  became 
quite  tamiliar  to  me  by  hearing  him  so  often  speak  of  them. 

Travel  then  was  on  foot  or  horseback)  and  oiti-n  in  the  ni^iit, 

to  avoid  Hies. 

"The    e\idence    ol    lasting-    work    mi^ht    be    given  at  great 

length.  Multitudes  will  trace  their  sakation  to  his  instru- 
mentality. His  n-mains  rest  near  Kail  field,  111." 

The  lollowin^-  inti-restino  letter  is  horn  Kev.  J.  T.  Borah, 
now  o!  Kien/.i,  Miss.  Mr.  liorah  was  tor  years  a  minister 
in  Illinois  : 


15°  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

"Rev.  David  McLin  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  by  Cum- 
berland Presbytery  in  the  month  of  February,  1813,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Mr.  McGhee  on  Three  Forks  of  Duck 
River.  Some  time  after  his  removal  to  Illinois  he  and  Rev. 
Nimrod  Furguson  bought  the  freedom  of  a  negro  preacher. 
Their  object  was  good.  At  the  time  of  the  purchase,  it  was 
believed  that  the  negro  might  accomplish  good  as  a  preacher. 
But  the  manumitted  slave  turned  out  -badly  :  proved  wicked 
and  ungrateful.  The  former  owner  exacted  rigidly  the  pay- 
ment of  the  purchase  money.  The  conduct  of  the  negro  had 
destroyed  all  confidence  and  sympathy.  The  purchasers  had 
expected  assistance  ;  but  the  whole  amount  fell  upon  McLin 
and  Furguson.  With  that  amount  to  pay,  and  a  large  family 
to  support,  McLin  was  pressed  for  years.  Poor  Furguson  ! 
he  fell  upon  breakers,  and  finally  stranded  among  the  quick- 
sands of  infidelity. 

"Mr.  McLin  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  had  the  reputation 
of  being  a  good  one.  But  he  abandoned  'the  bench,'  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  was  a  successful  physi- 
cian. During  all  these  changes,  and  under  all  these  trials 
which  fell  thick  and  hard  upon  him,  he  faltered  not,  but  was 
indefatigable  in  his  efforts  in  the  ministry.  That  great  and 
pressing  work  seemed  ever  to  absorb  his  heart  and  sympa- 
thies, notwithstanding  the  demands  upon  his  energy  in 
supporting  his  family.  He  had  appointments  far  and  near, 
in  church  houses,  school  houses,  and  very  often  at  private 
residences.  He  possessed  the  happy  art  of  presenting  the 
beauties  of  religion,  and  impressing  them  upon  heart  and 
mind,  when  out  of  the  pulpit,  as  well  as  when  in  it.  Espec- 
ially among  the  children  did  he  reign,  and  his  scepter  was 
love.  The  writer  has  often  sat  upon  the  knees  of  that  sainted 
man,  and  listened  to  the  story  of  a  Savior's  love,  that  seemed 
ever  on  the  lips  of  the  loving,  faithful  disciple.  Whether  in 
the  pulpit,  at  the  bedside  of  the  suffering,  in  the  social 
circle,  or  amongst  romping  children,  he  turned  all  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

account  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  so  near  his  heart, 
He  was  a  charming  preacher,  with  a  clear,  ringing  voice, 
pleasant  gestures,  and  eyes  that  became  luminous  when 
excited  or  enthused  with  his  subject.  In  stature  he  was 
rather  low,  and  somewhat  inclined  to  corpulence  ;  had  a  bald 
head,  but  was  exceedingly  fine  looking,  and  the  neatest  man 
I  ever  saw.  Mr.  McLin  was  once  preaching  at  Shiloh 
(Burnt  Prairie  neighborhood),  on  the  old  camp-ground. 
His  theme  was  :  'The  Pure  River  and  the  Tree  of  Life.' 
The  effort  was  truly  grand.  He  was  exceedingly  brilliant  in 
his  descriptions,  and  carried  his  hearers  onward  and  upward 
until  it  seemed  that  the  preacher  stood  upon  the  radiant  shore 
hard  by  the  throne,  and  the  audience  were  gazing  upon  the 
rapt  scene.  There  was  a  shout  sent  up  by  that  large  con- 
course, the  refrain  of  which  I  expect  angels  took  up,  and 
carried  to  the  'most  excellent  glory.'  The  preacher  sprang 
from  the  pulpit  and  burst  into  loud  hallelujahs.  Many  were 
converted  and  made  happy  on  that  occasion,  who,  with  the 
grand  old  preacher,  have  crossed  the  dark  river  and  have 
entered  the  heavenly  city  through  gates  of  pearl. 

"Dr.  McLin  preached  his  last  sermon  in  July  or  August  of 
the  year  he  died.  The  meeting  was  at  the  residence  of 
Daniel  Kinchello  in  Wayne  county,  five  miles  southwest  from 
Fairfield.  His  text  was  Isaiah  xxviii.  20:  'For  the  bed  is 
shorter  than  that  a  man  can  stretch  himself  on  it,  and  the 
covering  narrower  than  that  he  can  wrap  himself  in  it.' 
The  writer  was  only  a  youth,  yet  the  scene  will  never  be 
forgotten.  There  stood  the  old  warrior,  worn  and  feeble, 
trembling  under  the  weight  of  years  and  toil,  with  pale  brow, 
sunken  eye,  body  all  emaciated,  but  the  shadow  of  a  man  of 
a  few  years  ago.  While  elaborating  the  doctrines  of  the  text 
he  was  solemn,  pointed,  earnest;  but  when  he  came  to  the 
peroration  he  was  almost  fearful  in  the  grandeur  of  his 
appeals  to  the  dying  sinner  without  a  covering  to  shelter  his 
suffering  soul.  It  was  the  last  struggle.  The  work  of  Rev, 


152  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

David  McLin  was  done,  his  warfare  ended.  He  went  home, 
and  laid  by  his  armor,  calmly  and  sweetly  to  die  amidst  his 
loved  and  loving  family.  His  wife  and  some  of  his  sons  and 
daughters  have  followed,  and  are  now  with  him  resting  under 
the  shadow  of  a  throne  white  and  glorious." 

REV.  JOHN  M'CUTCHEN  BERRY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Virginia,  March 
22,  1788.  Of  his  parentage  and  early  life  tnit  little  is  now 
known.  His  education  was  necessarily  limited.  He  moved 
to  Tennessee  in  his  fourteenth  year,  and  professed  religion 
among  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians  in  his  twentieth  year. 
His  convictions  were  long  and  severe,  at  times  bordering  on 
despair.  His  mind  was  troubled  with  the  old  doctrine  of 
election  and  reprobation  taught  in  the  Westminster  Confes- 
sion. He  got  to  believe  that  he  was  eternally  reprobated, 
and  that  therefore  there  was  no  mercy  for  him.  The  writer 
knows  from  experience  something  of  the  terrible  anxieties 
this  doctrine  can  produce  when  once  it  gets  a  lodgment  in 
the  mind  (For  what  is  here  narrated  we  are  mainly  indebted 
to  Rev.  A.  Johnson's  letters  as  published  in  1864  in  the 
Western  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  of  which  the  writer  was 
then  Editor,  and  to  Dr.  Beard's  "Second  Series"  of  bio- 
graphical sketches.)  When  at  last  the  light  broke  into  his 
soul,  he  described  it  as  "the  sun  arising  at  midnight." 
Through  all  his  ministerial  course  he  had  a  great  aversion, 
amounting  almost  to  abhorrence  of  this  terrible  doctrine,  that 
man's  destiny  is  fixed  from  eternity,  irrespective  of  any 
conditions. 

Soon  after  his  conversion  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  preach 
the  gospel,  but  strove  against  the  impressions  with  great 
resolution.  But  the  impressions  followed  him,  and  in  order 
to  get  away  from  this  duty,  and  the  darkness  of  mind  pro- 
duced by  his  rebellion  against  God,  he  wras  greatly  tempted 
to  commit  suicide,  and  at  one  time  went  out  into  the  darkness 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  153 

to  end  his  existence.  Some  influence,  however,  kept  him 
from  committing  the  deed.  To  drown  these  feelings  he 
married,  and  married  one  who,  li'.;e  himself,  was  sternly 
opposed  to  his  trying  to  be  a  preacher.  He  also  joined  the 
army  in  1812  under  Col.  Young  Ewing.  The  expedition 
was  against  the  Indians  in  Illinois.  The  regiment  marched 
to  Fort  Clark,  found  no  Indians,  and  returned  to  Kentucky 
nearly  starved  for  food.  Col.  Ewing  was  brother  to  Rev. 
Finis  Ewing,  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  Finis  EvVing  was  himself  in  the  regiment  as 
soldier  and  chaplain.  Mr.  Berry  again  entered  the  army, 
and  was  in  the  celebrated  battle  of  New  Orleans,  fought  on 
the  8th  of  January,  1815.  It  was  in  this  battle,  exposed  to 
instant  death,  with  men  falling  all  around  him,  that  Mr. 
Berry  promised  God,  if  spared  to  return  home,  he  would 
serve  him  to  the  best  of  his  ability  in  any  position  he  called 
him.  His  soul  at  that  time  was  filled  with  inexpressible  de- 
light and  joy. 

In  1817  Mr.  Berry  was  received  as  a  candidate  under  the 
care  of  Logan  Presbytery.  In  the  Fall  of  1819  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  in  1822  he  was  ordained 
to  the  whole  work  of  the  gospel  ministry.  In  1820  he 
removed  to  the  State  of  Indiana,  where,  like  all  other  poor 
people,  he  labored  on  a  farm  to  support  his  family  and 
preached  what  he  could.  Shortly  after  his  ordination  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  was  one  of  the  three  members  who 
formed  the  first  Presbytery,  as  recorded  elsewhere.  He 
settled  in  Sangamon  county  (at  that  day  but  sparsely  settled), 
and  he  was  the  only  preacher  of  our  people  in  all  the  northern 
part  of  the  State.  He  continued  a  member  of  Illinois  Pres- 
bytery until,  in  the  Spring  of  1829,  Sangamon  Presbytery 
held  its  first  meeting,  and  he  was  one  of  its  five  ministers 
present.  He  lived  and  labored  in  this  field  for  many  years 
with  wonderful  success.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was 
a  member,  we  think,  of  Mackinaw  Presbytery,  and  remained 


154  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

so  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  Winter  of  1856  and 
1857,  at  his  residence  in  Clinton,  DeWitt  county.  His  last 
sermon  was  delivered  at  old  Sugar  Creek,  in  Logan  county, 
some  ten  miles  north  of  Lincoln,  from  Rom  viii.  28.  He 
died  as  he  had  lived:  with  his  armor  on,  and  in  the  field  of 
battle. 

Mr.  Berry  was  a  very  positive  man.  His  opinions  were 
very  decided,  and  his  preaching  was  bold,  frank,  unvar- 
nished. The  writer  first  met  him  in  the  town  of  Greenfield, 
at  the  session  of  Sangamon  Presbytery  in  1854,  onty  a  little 
over  two  years  before  his  death.  He  was  very  impressive  as 
a  speaker.  His  points  were  made  clear  and  strong,  and  he 
was  a  man  of  large  influence  over  the  entire  State.  We  had 
the  impression  that  no  man  of  his  day,  if  we  may  except 
Rev.  Mr.  McLin,  had  as  much  to  do  in  forming  the  character 
and  establishing  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Illinois  as  had  Mr.  Berry. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  entertained  extreme  views 
on  the  subject  of  baptism,  which  crippled  his  influence  writh 
a  portion  of  the  Church.  In  his  early  ministry  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  baptizing  often  by  immersion,  if  the  subject  preferred 
this  mode.  This,  indeed,  was  the  common  practice  thirty 
years  ago.  Mr.  Berry  had  a  case  of  this  kind.  It  was  a 
lady.  The  season  was  dry,  and  sufficient  water  was  hard  to 
procure.  The  baptism  was  delayed  some  hours,  certain 
parties  having  to  dam  up  a  little  stream  so  as  to  accumulate 
water  enough  to  immerse  the  body.  Mr.  Berry  felt  that  he 
and  the  entire  audience  were  placed  under  very  embarrass- 
ing circumstances.  It  led  him  to  a  careful  examination  of  the 
subject  as  to  whether  God  required  a  mode  which,  many 
times,  places  the  subject  and  administrator  under  embarrass- 
ments like  those  under  which  they  were  laboring.  His  mind 
underwent  a  great  revolution  on  this  question,  and  he  came 
to  the  firm  conviction  that  immersion  is  not  baptism  at  all : 
that  all  who  are  immersed  are  yet  unbaptized,  and  conse- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  155 

quently  are  not  in  the  Church  at  all — baptism,  as  he  viewed 
it,  being  the  door  into  the  visible  Church.  Mr.  Berry  was 
not  a  man  to  believe  strongly  in  the  necessity  and  importance 
of  a  dogma,  and  not  preach  it.  Accordingly,  he  preached 
and  argued  his  new  doctrine  far  and  near,  producing  at  the 
time  quite  a  sensation  among  the  churches  of  his  Presbytery 
and  Synod.  So  far  did  he  carry  his  view  that  he  refused  to 
administer  the  sacrament  of  the  Supper  to  those  who  had 
been  immersed,  alleging  that  they  were  unbaptized,  and 
therefore  had  no  right  lo  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 
About  this  time  he  published  his  book  entitled,  ''The  Cove- 
nants," in  which  the  doctrine  just  mentioned  is  strongly  urged. 
Before  the  close  of  his  life  he  seemed  to  lose  sight, 
somewhat,  of  this  theme,  and  go  back  to  the  themes  of  his 
younger  days  in  the  ministry ;  and  the  excitement  over  his 
theory  had  well  nigh  died  out. 

Mr.  Berry  was  very  prompt  in  his  attendance  upon  the 
judicalories  of  the  Church.  He  was  never  absent  unless 
positively  hindered  by  sickness  or  death,  often  riding  from 
one  hundred  to  five  hundred  miles  to  get  there,  and  that,  too, 
over  swollen  streams  and  through  mud  and  almost  boundless 
prairies,  many  times  without  any  road  as  a  guide  to  the  place 
of  destination.  He  was  a  man  of  great  courage  and  perse- 
verance, of  unquestioned  integrity  and  of  spotless  character. 
There  was  one  thing  which  seemed  to  trouble  him  more  than 
all  else,  and  that  was  a  son,  who  became  dissipated.  Mr. 
Berry  was  much  from  home,  and  it  appears  that  while  not 
under  the  immediate  eye  of  his  father,  the  son  acquired  a 
taste  for  strong  drink.  This,  with  its  attendant  evils,  gave 
the  parents  much  anxiety,  and  even  anguish  of  mind.  Dr. 
Beard  relates  an  incident  connected  with  this  son's  case, 
which  we  think  worthy  of  repeating  here.  We  may  here 
state,  that  no  man  could  have  been  more  opposed  to  intem- 
perance, or  a  stronger  advocate  of  total  abstinence  from 
all  intoxicating  drinks  as  a  beverage,  than  was  Mr.  Ben"Y» 


156  HIOGRAPHICAL. 

His  was  an  uncompromising  war  upon  the  enemy  at  all  times. 
But  to  the  incident:  "Abraham  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Berry's 
prodigal  son  were  at  one  time  partners  in  a  little  store.  It  is 
not  so  stated,  but  we  should  infer  from  the  narrative  that 
they  probably  sold  whisky.  Although  Mr.  Berry  could  not 
overcome  the  obstinacy  of  his  son,  he  seems  to  have  suc- 
ceeded with  the  partner.  On  one  occasion  afterward,  when 
Mr.  Lincoln  had  risen  to  some  eminence  as  a  lawyer,  a  grog 
shop  in  a  particular  neighborhood  was  exerting  a  bad  influence 
upon  some  husbands.  The  wives  of  these  men  united  their 
forces,  assailed  the  establishment,  knocked  the  heads  out  of 
the  barrels,  broke  the  bottles,  and  smashed  up  things 
generally.  The  women  were  prosecuted,  and  Mr.  Lincoln 
volunteered  his  services  in  their  defense.  In  the  course  of  a 
powerful  argument  upon  the  evils  of  the  use  of,  and  of  the 
traffic  in,  ardent  spirits,  whilst  many  in  the  crowded  court 
room  were  bathed  in  tears,  the  speaker  turned,  and,  pointing 
his  bony  finger  towards  Mr.  Berry,  who  was  standing  near 
him,  said  :  k  There  is  the  man  who,  years  ago,  was  instru- 
mental in  convincing  me  of  the  evils  of  trafticing  in  and  using 
ardent  spirits.  I  am  glad  that  I  ever  saw  him.  I  am  glad 
that  I  ever  heard  his  testimony  on  this  terrible  subject. '' 
Several  years  ago,  while  traveling  in  that  part  of  the  State  in 
company  with  another  minister,  he  pointed  out  to  the  writer 
the  spot  by  the  roadside  where  stood  the  little  store  referred 
to  by  Dr.  Beard.  Mr.  Lincoln  is  not  the  only  great  man  in 
political  circles  who  has  received  some  good  influences  from 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Dr.  Beard  concludes 
this  incident  by  saying,  that  Mr.  Bern  "was  more  honored 
that  day  than  he  would  have  been  afterwards  had  he  been 
made  Mr.  Lincoln's  Secretary  of  State."  And  so  he  was. 

We  did  not  meet  with  Mr.  Berry  but  two  or  three  times 
prior  to  his  death.  The  last  time  v\  e  saw  him  was  at  the 
meeting  of  Sangamon  Synod  the  \ear  before  his  death.  He 
preached  on  the  occasion  a  goodj  strong  sermon,  attended 


157 

with  warmth  ami  energy.  The  impression  made  upon  the 
mind  of  the  writer  was,  that  Mr.  Berry  was  a  plain,  pointed, 
gospel  preacher,  seeking  no  display,  desiring  no  applause 
from  men.  And  when  he  was  hilly  enlisted  in  his  subject, 
he  was  powerful,  and  sometimes  almost  irresistihle.  He  did 
a  great  and  glorious  work,  and  has  gone  to  his  rest  and 
toward. 

KK\  .     AHNKR    WAYNK    LANSDEN. 

Mr.  Lansden  was  born  in  Iredell  county,  North  Carolina, 
October  ist,  1794  \  removed  with  his  lather's  family  to  Wilson 
•  county,  Tennessee,  in  1807;  professed  religion  in  1820; 
joined  Presbytery  with  George  Donnell  and  Samuel  Aston 
April  5th,  1821,  at  old  Moriah  church,  where  the  family 
worshiped.  He  was  licensed  in  the  Fall  of  1822  ;  ordained 
in  the  Spring  of  1825.  He  married  Mary  M.  Gallaher,  sister 
of  Revs.  James,  Allen,  and  William  Gallaher,  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  1828.  lie  resided  in  Blount  county, 
Tennessee,  till  near  1835,  when  he  removed  to  Sangamon 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  thirty-four  years.  He  lived 
twenty-nine  years  in  one  neighborhood,  organized  and  built 
up  the  Smyrna  congregation.  lie  removed  to  Saline  county, 
Missouri,  in  1869,  where  his  two  daughters  had  gone,  and 
where  he  breathed  his  last. 

In  1843  his  wife  died,  leaving  him  with  five  children,  the 
youngest  live  and  the  oldest  thirteen  years  of  age.  He  was 
married  again  in  1855  to  Miss  Sarah  L.  Lowrance,  who 
survives  him.  He  preached  to  Smyrna  congregation  a  part, 
or  the  whole  of  his  time  for  twenty-nine  years,  and  after 
removing  to  Missouri  labored  for  the  most  part  in  the  Mount 
Olivet  congregation  in  New  Lebanon  Presbytery. 

On  the  last  Sabbath  in  August  he  preached  his  last  sermon 
from  the  text,  "What  shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal 
life?" — Mark  x.  17.  His  sermon  was  delivered  with  unusual 
earnestness.  lie  was  a  faithful  messenger  of  Christ  to  dying- 
men  for  fifty-three  years.  What  a  testimony  to  leave  behind  ! 


158  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

He  lived  to  see  all  his  children  members  of  the  Church,  and, 
we  trust,  heirs  of  eternal  life. 

Mr.  Lansden  was  one  of  the  first  ministers  the  writer 
remembers  to  have  heard  preach.  My  father's  house  was  a 
preaching  place  for  the  "circuit  riders"  in  East  Tennessee 
for  many  years.  Lansden  or  George  Donnell,  I  cannot  now 
tell  which,  came  round  first,  and  the  other  soon  followed. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  instruments  in  God's  hands 
of  establishing  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  through 
all  East  Tennessee.  Many  and  many  a  time  have  I  seen  him 
exhort,  sing,  pray,  and  labor  at  camp-meetings  till  nearly  if 
not  quite  the  break  of  day.  He  was  a  man  of  whom  any 
Church  may  well  feel  proud,  for,  in  his  long  ministerial  life 
of  over  fifty-three  years,  he  never  had  the  slightest  stain  upon 
his  moral  character.  He  ever  adorned  his  calling  and 
brought  honor  to  his  Church.  In  later  years  I  have  heard 
him  say  the  first  couple  he  married  was  at  my  father's  house, 
at  the  close  of  preaching  at  one  of  his  monthly  appointments. 
The  couple  were  cousins  of  mine  ;  and  although  they  were 
not  members  of  the  Church,  they  named  their  first-born  for 
him  who  married  them.  He  left  that  country  when  I  was 
but  a  boy,  and  when  we  met,  after  long  years  of  separation, 
my  heart  was  too  full  for  utterance. 

In  all  my  acquaintance  in  the  Church  I  never  have  known 
a  better  man.  He  was  a  good  preacher.  His  strong  points 
were  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  on  which  he  dwelt  with 
great  clearness,  pathos,  and  power.  His  appeals  to  the  un- 
converted were  often  almost  irresistible.  His  tender  pleadings 
with  them,  while  tears  coursed  down  his  cheeks,  were  enough 
to  melt,  and  often  under  God  did  melt,  hearts  of  stone.  He 
spent  no  time  in  frivolous  talking  and  jesting  after  service 
was  over.  As  a  father,  husband,  neighbor,  and  citizen,  he 
met  his  responsibilities  so  that  he  commanded  universal  love 
and  esteem.  Hundreds,  it  may  be  thousands,  will  rise  up 
and  call  him  blessed  as  the  instrument  of  their  salvation. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1 59 

Unostentatious,  gentle  as  the  dove,  he  was  -as  firm  to  his 
principles  as  the  everlasting  hills.  He  never  neglected  family 
religion,  was  a  close  observer  of  the  Sabbath,  was  a  total 
abstainer  from  all  intoxicants.  He  was  faithful  to  all  his 
Church  vows.  He  was  always  present  at  Presbytery  and 
Synod,  unless  Providentially  detained — and  that,  with  him, 
meant  death  or  serious  sickness.  He  died  in  great  peace  at  his 
home  in  Saline  county,  Missouri,  Sept.  8th,  1875,  lacking 
but  twenty-two  days  of  being  eighty-two  years  of  age. 
Shortly  before  he  breathed  his  last,  his  two  daughters  being 
by  his  bed,  he  raised  his  hand  and,  pointing  upward,  said, 
"It  is  all  light,  and  no  darkness  at  all."  And  thus  his  sun, 
instead  of  setting  in  eternal  night,  has  arisen  "no  more  to  go 
down." 

We  take  pleasure  in  appending  the  following  letter,  written 
by  Rev.  Jesse  S.  Grider  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
shortly  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Lansden.  Mr.  Grider  was 
then  a  resident  of  Illinois,  and  was  traveling  in  the  interests 
of  Lincoln  University. 

"I  was  with  Bro.  Wiley  KnovVles  at  his  appointment  near 
Auburn,  Illinois,  on  the  Sabbath  immediately  succeeding  the 
announcement  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  of  the  death 
of  the  venerable  Abner  Lansden.  The  members  of  that 
congregation  (Smyrna)  had  not  heard  of  that  sad  event,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  sermon  Bro.  Knowles  arose  and  said,  'I 
have  a  sad  announcement  to  make.  Your  old  pastor,  and 
one  long  beloved,  Father  Lansden,  is  no  more.'  Immedi- 
ately the  whole  congregation  broke  into  tears.  The  people 
literally  'lifted  up  their  voices  and  wept.'  An  old  sister 
exclaimed,  'My  spiritual  father  has  gone  to  heaven.'  An  old 
brother  (Jannett)  arose  from  his  seat  and  said,  with  tears, 
'He  is  not  only  my  spiritual  father,  but  of  my  whole  family. 
He  led  us  all  to  Jesus.'  I  do  not  remember  to  have  ever 
witnessed  such  a  scene  as  this.  It  has  been  often  said  that  a 
monument  erected  in  the  affections  of  a  people  is  more  en- 


l6o  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

during  than  brass.  Father  Lansden  has  certainly  one  of 
these  heart-monuments  erected  to  his  memory. 

"I  do  not  think  the  poet  spoke  truly  when  he  said,  'The 
evil  that  men  do  lives  after  them  ;  the.  good  is  oft  interred 
with  their  bones.'  Let  us  prefer  the  sentiment,  'He,  being 
dead,  yet  speaketh.' 

"Now,  Mr.  Editor,  would  you  not  prefer  such  a  monument 
as  the  one  erected  in  the  hearts  of  these  people  to  that  of  the 
costliest  marble,  or  the  most  imperishable  brass?  This 
modest,  unpretending  minister  of  Christ  has  left  a  record 
behind,  in  which  the  most  gifted  and  honored  might  rejoice. 

"  'Servant  of  God,  well  done ! 

Rest  from  thy  blest  employ ; 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 

Enter  thy  Master's  joy.' " 

As  said  elsewhere,  Mr.  Lansden  was  one  of  the  first,  if 
not  the  first,  preacher  I  can  remember  to  have  heard.  After 
years  of  separation  we  met  in  the  Fall  of  1853  or  1854  at 
Mount  Zion  camp-ground,  in  Macon  county.  That  was  a 
memorable  occasion ;  for  not  only  was  Mr.  Lansden  present, 
but  his  old  East  Tennessee  comrade,  Rev.  Samuel  Aston, 
who  had  just  come  West,  and  these  two  met  at  this  meeting  for 
the  first  time  in  many  years.  Mr.  Aston  took  charge  of  this 
church,  and  in  a  year  or  two  thereafter  died,  and  was  buried 
in  the  graveyard  close  by  the  church. 

Mr.  Lansden  was  for  several  years  pastor  of  old  Sugar 
Creek  church,  in  Sangamon  county.  During  his  pastorate 
there  the  writer  assisted  him  in  a  meeting  of  much  interest, 
His  labors  extended  over  a  large  territory  of  the  State.  For 
a  short  time,  also,  he  was  pastor  of  Bethany  church,  in 
Moultrie  county,  and  may  have  supplied  other  churches. 
But  his  great  work  was  at  old  Smyrna.  There  he  lived  and 
labored  for  a  great  many  years,  and  left  universally  beloved. 

Mr.  Lansden  belonged  to  a  generation  past.  He.  was 
remarkable  for  his  simplicity,  modesty,  and  retiring  manner, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  l6l 

chaste  language  and  dignified  demeanor  in  the  pulpit.  He 
never,  on  any  occasion,  indulged  in  light  and  frivolous  con- 
versation in  private  circles.  You  could  not  be  with  him  long 
without  feeling  that  his  conversation  was  in  heaven  ;  that  he 
lived  in  a  holy  and  pure  atmosphere,  and  that,  while  he  did 
not  seem  conscious  of  it,  he  occupied  a  much  higher  moral 
plane  than  the  great  mass  of  professed  Christians.  The  one 
trait  of  character  more  prominent  than  all  others  was  his 
great  humility.  He  never  aspired  to  be  great  in  the  world's 
estimation.  He  only  wished  to  be  useful.  He  was  willing 
to  take  the  lowest  seat  and  occupy  the  humblest  place,  if  only 
the  Master's  cause  was  served.  He  was  rather  under  the 
average  stature,  lean  and  thin,  and  possessed  of  a  clear, 
silvery  voice  which,  once  heaijd  for  half  an  hour,  could  never 
be  forgotten  by  an  attentive  listener.  Like  the  most  of  the 
fathers  of  Cumberland  Presbyterianism,  he  had  a  mind  well 
stored  with  Bible  knowledge,  and  was  well  qualified  to  ex- 
pound and  defend'  the  doctrines  of  our  Church  against  the 
extremes  of  Arminianism  and  Calvinism.  Few  men  in  any 
Church  have  lived  longer  or  to  a  better  purpose  than  did  he. 
One  son  resides  in  Cairo,  Illinois,  another  in  Kansas  ;  two 
married  daughters  and  the  widow  have  their  homes  in 
Missouri. 

REV.     JOEL    KNIGHT. 

For  the  historical  facts  in  this  sketch  we  are  mainly  in- 
debted to  the  autobiographical  sketch  which  Mr.  Knight  left 
for  publication  at  his  death,  and  which  was  published  in 
consecutive  numbers  of  Our  Faith.  We  have,  however, 
gained  some  additional  information  from  the  minutes  of 
Illinois  and  Vandalia  Presbyteries. 

Rev.  Joel  Knight  was  born  at  the  "Red  Banks"  (now 
Henderson)  Kentucky,  February  22,  1796.  His  father's 
name  was  John  Knight,  who  was  born  near  Baltimore,  Md. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Ann  Roelofson,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  At  the  time  of  the  birth  of  Mr.  Knight,  and 


l62  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

for  many  years  after,  the  Indian  wars  were  frequent  and 
their  cruelties  horrible.  At  the  time  of  his  birth  his  oldest 
brother,  Isaac  Knight,  was  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the 
Indians,  where  he  remained  about  three  years  before  making 
his  escape.  At  the  age  of  six  years  Mr.  Knight's  father 
died,  leaving  his  mother  a  widow  with  a  large  family,  two 
children  being  younger  than  himself.  It  is  almost  needless 
to  say,  that  at  that  time  and  under  the  circumstances  an  edu- 
cation was  almost  out  of  the  question  in  this  Western  country. 
Mr.  Knight  was  what  the  world  would  call  a  self-made, 
common  English  scholar.  He  went  to  school  but  little  at 
any  time.  He  speaks  as  follows  of  his  first  religious  convic- 
tions:  "I  suppose  I  was  not  more  than  seven  years  old 
when  I  felt  that  I  was  a  poor  sinner,  and  needed  to  have  my 
sins  pardoned  in  order  to  be  happy  hereafter.  I  often 
promised  in  my  own  mind,  and  sometimes  publicly,  that  I 
would  do  better  and  try  to  become  good  ;.but  again  I  forgot 
my  promises,  neglected  private  prayer,  and  was  as  bad  as  ever. 
Sometimes  I  was  even  more  wild  ;  but  when  at  meeting  I 
always  paid  strict  attention  to  preaching  and  religious  exer- 
cises." At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha  Bostick,  who  was  a  pious  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  He  seems  to  have  lived  on  in  a  semi-careless  state 
for  several  years.  In  1818  he  attended  a  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian camp-meeting  near  where  Evansville,  Ind.,  now 
stands,  at  which  a  number  of  his  friends  and  relatives 
professed  religion.  Here  he  seemed  to  be  greatly  troubled 
on  account  of  his  sins,  but  he  says,  "I  left  a  poor,  distressed, 
helpless  sinner/'  He  wore  off  somewhat  his  distress,  and 
engaged  in  the  busy  affairs  of  the  world,  as  usual.  Shortly 
after  this  he  visited  Illinois  on  an  exploring  trip,  and  was  so 
pleased  with  the  new  country  that  he  determined  to  remove 
thither.  In  the  Spring  of  1819  he  removed  to  White  county, 
and  settled  at  "Seven  Mile  Prairie."  Here  Rev.  David  W. 
ha.d  previously  settled  and  started  a  Cumberland 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  163 

Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Knight  had  become  firmly  con- 
vinced that  there  was  a  medium  ground — which  alone  was 
the  true  ground — between  the  extremes  of  Calvinism  and  the 
current  Arminianism  of  the  country  ;  and  when  he  heard 
Cumberland  Presbyterians  preach,  their  doctrines  were  just 
what  he  believed  to  be  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He 
became  enamored  with  their  theory  of  the  plan  of  redemp- 
tion, as  alike  honoring  to  God  and  adapted  to  the  condition 
of  a  fallen  race.  He  determined  to  settle  in  Mr.  McLin's 
congregation.  At  this  time  he  had  two  children.  The  latter 
part  of  the  following  August  a  communion  meeting  was  held 
at  Hopewell  (now  Enfield),  where  Revs.  Wm.  Barnett,  John 
Barnett,  Wm.  Henry,  Dr.  Johnson  and  Aaron  Shelby  were 
present,  besides  Mr.  McLin.  O  n  Monday  of  this  meeting, 
under  a  pungent  sermon  by  Rev.  John  Barnett  from  John 
xix.  4,  Mr.  Knight  was  brought  to  see  his  sins  as  he  had 
never  seen  them  before.  Dr.  Johnson  preached  at  night, 
called  the  anxious,  and  Mr.  Knight  was  among  those  who 
responded  promptly.  We  give  his  own  words  as  to  his  feel- 
ings when  the  great  change  came.  Dr.  Johnson  was  asking 
him  questions  while  his  soul  was  enveloped  in  gloom,  and 
almost  despair.  He  says:  "He  continued  to  ask  until  I 
suppose  he  saw  clearly  my  state  of  mind.  He  then  turned 
my  mind  to  view  Christ  in  his  true  character,  and  what  he 
has  done  as  man's  security  in  order  to  meet  and  satisfy  the 
law  in  man's  stead.  Every  word  seemed  to  shed  light  on 
the  subject.  My  mind  followed  him  until  it  was  finished. 
It  seemed  that  a  shock  of  lightning  poured  through  my  whole 
frame,  and  I  thought  it  was  really  so  (a  storm  was  raging  at 
the  time)  ;  but  I  saw  the  plan  of  salvation  complete,  full  and 
free.  I  saw  God  could  be  just  and  save  sinners,  for  what 
Christ  had  done."  He  seems,  however,  not  to  have  received 
the  idea  that  he  had  really  any  change  at  this  time.  He  saw 
how  he  could  be  saved,  but  yet  he  did  not  believe  he  had 
complied  with  the  terms  of  the  gospel.  He  continues:  "I 


164  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

continued  in  this  state  of  mind  some  four  weeks  or  more, 
when,  at  a  camp-meeting  in  Union  county,  Ky.,  such  a  sense 
of  divine  love,  mercy,  goodness,  and  glory  of  God  burst  upon 
my  view  as  to  overpower  me.  I  broke  forth  into  expressions 
of  wonder,  joy,  and  gladness.  For  a  time  I  was  so  com- 
pletely lost  in  the  love  of  the  Savior  thai  I  knew  not  what  I 
did."  Mr.  Knight  returned  home,  immediately  erected  the 
family  altar,  and  resolved  he  would  not  drink  ardent  spirits 
(although  at  this  time  there  were  no  temperance  organizations 
in  the  country). 

He  soon  began  to  feel  that  the  Lord  had  something  for 
him  to  do  in  his  vineyard  which  he  had  not  done.  He  jfelt  a 
burning  anxiety  for  souls.  But  he  was  very  poor,  had  a 
young  and  increasing  family  largely  dependent  on  his  efforts 
for  their  every  day  support,  and  it  looked  like  utter  folly,  he 
thought,  for  such  an  ignorant  and  poor,  man  as  he  was  to 
think  of  any  position  in  the  Church  but  that  of  a  modest 
private  member.  We  quote  again:  "My  impressions  to 
warn  the  unconverted  and  to  try  to  save  sinners  continually 
increased  ;  but  I  had  no  knowledge  of  anything  as  a  science. 
I  had  a  little  superficial  knowledge  of  reading,  writing,  arith- 
metic, and  nothing  more.  I  had  no  proper  knowledge  of  the 
nature  and  form  of  letters,  and  the  proper  method  of  spelling 
words,  nor  of  forming  w^ords  into  a  sentence  scientifically. 
Here  was  my  ignorance,  poverty,  and  the  weight  of  a  rising 
family  entirely  dependent  upon  my  energies  for  management 
and  support  in  their  helpless  and  dependent  condition,  and 
last,  but  not  least,  the  awful  responsibility  of  the  work. 
These,  all  combined,  presented  obstacles  which,  to  my  mind, 
seemed  insurmountable  in  my  peculiar  circumstances."  To 
add  to  this  formidable  array  of  difficulties,  his  health  had 
declined  and  he  was  in  debt.  To  human  vision  these  were 
enough  to  appall  the  mind  of  any  one.  But  the  promised 
"sufficient  grace"  can  surmount  all  obstacles  and  remove  all 
mountains. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  165 

Mr.  Knight  finally  broke  the  subject  to  his  wife,  fearing 
she  would  oppose  his  efforts  to  preach  ;  but  he  was  much 
disappointed  in  her  cheerful  willingness  for  him  to  do  any 
thing  he  felt  to  be  duty.  Accordingly,  in  the  Spring  of  1821 
he  went  to  Kentucky  to  attend  the  meeting  of  Logan  Presby- 
tery. He  was  received  as  a  candidate,  and  from  that  time 
Providence  seemed  to  smile  on  his  plans  for  a  living  for  his 
family.  He  set  about  the  study  of  English  Grammar 
(Murray)  without  a  teacher.  He  worked  hard  at  manual 
labor  all  day,  and  sat  up  late  and  studied  his  Grammar. 
Then  he  arose  in  the  morning  before  light.  He  rode  on 
horseback  two  hundred  miles  that  Fall  to  attend  Presbytery. 
At  the  next  session  (which  was  a  year  from  his  reception  as 
a  candidate)  he  was  licensed  at  Rose  Creek,  Hopkins 
county,  Ky.,  with  eleven  others,  to  preach  the  gospel  as  a 
probationer.  He  rode  the  circuit  and  preached  as  much  as 
possible,  in  his  straightened  circumstances.  Ministers  in 
those  days  got  very  little  sustenance.  Indeed  the  congrega- 
tions were  few,  poor,  and  scattered  over  a  broad  territory. 
When  Cumberland  Synod  ordered  the  organization  of  Illinois 
Presbytery  the  first  Tuesday  in  May,  1823,  Mr.  Knight,  with 
others,  was  transferred  to  the  care  of  the  new  Presbytery. 
He  was  present  at  its  organization.  We  have  often  heard 
him  describe  the  occasion. 

It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  Mr.  Knight,  as  a  minister, 
began  with  the  beginning  of  our  Church  in  Illinois.  No  man 
was  better  acquainted  with  its  toils,  difficulties,  and  discour- 
agements than  was  he. 

The  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Knight  with  the  writer  dates  back 
to  the  Spring  of  1849.  We  then  met  first  in  the  General 
Assembly.  We  had  corresponded  before.  We  were  placed 
together  on  a  committee  to  try  to  adjust  the  difficulties  arising 
out  of  the  famous  "White  and  Bonham"  case.  In  1853  we 
met  again  near  Edwardsville,  at  old  Goshen  church,  in  a 
meeting;  and  shortly  after  the  writer  became  a  member  of 


1 66  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

the  same  Presbytery,  and  our  relations  were  henceforth 
necessarily  intimate.  Mr.  Knight  lived  to  a  good  old  age, 
and  departed  to  his  long  home  on  the  2nd  of  February,  1876, 
at  his  residence  in  Donnellson,  Montgomery  county,  where 
he  had  resided  for  some  years.  His  death  was  very  peaceful 
and  quiet,  without  a  struggle  or  seeming  pain.  He  was  not 
able  to  speak  after  he  was  taken  ill,  and  died  in  a  few  min- 
utes ;  but  his  whole  life  was  a  "living  epistle,"  to  be  known 
and  read  by  all  men.  He  had  lost  his  first  wife  several  years 
previous,  after  having  reared  a  large  family.  She  was  a  good 
woman,  full  of  faith,  and  a  help-meet  indeed.  After  being 
single  for  a  good  while  Mr.  Knight  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Eliza  Barber,  the  widow  of  Rev.  John  Barber,  Jr.,  who  still 
survives  him.  She,  too,  is  a  most  consecrated,  pious  lady. 
His  last  years  were  spent  free  from  want,  temporal  and  spirit- 
ual, and  he  went  down  to  the  grave  beloved  by  the  entire 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  throughout  the  State,  and 
mourned  by  many  others  besides.  He  lived  to  see  one 
Presbytery  spread  into  ten,  and  a  "handful  of  corn"  in  the  top  of 
the  mountains  shake  its  fruit  like  Lebanon.  At  the  Fall  session 
of  Vandalia  Presbytery  of  1876,  of  which  he  had  been  a 
member  from  its  organization,  that  body,  in  memory  of  his 
long,  respected  and  useful  life,  ordered  a  funeral  sermon  to 
be  preached  by  the  writer,  which  was  done  before  a  large 
and  tearful  assembly  of  people,  after  suitable  resolutions  had 
been  placed  upon  the  record  in  regard  to  his  death. 

We  append  the  following  reflections  :  Mr.  Knight  in  per- 
sonal appearance  was  a  hearty,  stout,  robust  man,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  would  probably  weigh  nearly  two  hundred 
pounds.  He  was  rather  slow  of  speech,  but  always  left  the 
impression  upon  his  hearers  that  he  had  thought  closely  on 
the  subject  before  he  spoke.  He  was  not  a  fluent  speaker  or 
an  orator,  and  yet  there  was  something  about  his  appearance 
which  always  and  everywhere  commanded  the  respect  and 
attention  of  the  people. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  167 

He  was  a  man  of  very  positive  convictions.  He  formed 
his  own  opinions  regardless  of  what  others  might  think  or  not 
think  of  the  subject  in  question ;  and  he  had  the  moral 
courage  to  do  what  he  thought  was  right,  if  he  stood  alone. 
He  was  not  strict  in  parliamentary  rules,  but  he  was  a  good 
counsellor  in  the  judicatories  of  the  Church,  and  spent  nearly 
his  entire  time  in  studying  ways  and  means  to  do  good.  He 
was  well  versed  in  the  Scriptures,  and  had  as  clear  an  idea 
of  the  theological  position  of  our  Church  as  any  man  with 
whom  we  ever  conversed  or  read  after.  He  was  a  man  of 
unusual  power  in  prayer,  and  many  times  in  the  application 
of  his  sermon  he  was  powerful  and  convincing.  He  always 
used  scrupulously  good  and  chaste  language,  and  we  never 
knew  him  to  descend  to  the  low  jesting  and  joking  in  private 
circles  which  so  often  injure  ministerial  character  and  influ- 
ence. He  was  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  the  country,  as 
he  was  one  of  the  oldest  ministers  of  any  denomination,  and 
he  carried  with  him  to  the  grave  a  character  untainted  by  a 
single  spot  through  a  long  and  variously  active  life.  He 
always  took  a  deep  interest  and  bore  an  active  part  in  sustain- 
ing every  enterprise  of  the  Church  ;  and,  while  he  loved  and 
had  the  confidence  of  all  Christians  who  knew  him,  he  was  a 
firm  and  unflinching  Cumberland  Presbyterian  in  principle, 
and  believed  that  the  doctrinal  standpoint  of  our  Church  was 
the  point  towards  which  all  Christendom,  in  its  theological 
changes,  is  tending.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  Mr.  Knight 
acquitted  himself  with  like  credit.  He  was  the  kind  husband, 
the  affectionate  father,  the  friendly  neighbor,  the  good  citi- 
zen, the  Christian  gentleman,  the  faithful,  successful  minister 
of  Christ. 

REV.    SAMUEL    M'ADOW. 

This  name  is  familiar  to  all  who  ever  read  about  Cumber- 
land Presbyterians,  he  being  one  of  the  immortal  three  who 
had  the  courage  to  face  public  opinion  and  the  frowns  of  the 
"mother  Church,"  and  act  out  his  conscious  convictions  of 


1 68  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

right,  regardless  of  the  applause  or  censure  of  the  world. 
At  his  humble  home  in  Dixon  county,  Tennessee,  Feb.  4th, 
1810,  the  Cumberland  Presbytery  was  re-organized,  and 
another  feeble  denomination  started  in  its  career  in  the 
world  for  good  or  ill. 

As  the  venerable  Dr.  Beard,  in  his  second  series  of  Bio- 
graphical Sketches,  has  already  given  the  Church  and  the 
world  a  sketch  of  this  father  in  Israel,  this  would  have  been 
deemed  sufficient  by  the  writer,  but  for  the  fact  that  Mr. 
McAdow  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life  in  Illinois,  and  his 
body  lies  sleeping  in  Illinois  soil.  We  regard  any  attempt  at 
a  history  of  the  Church  in  this  State  as  defective  and  incom- 
plete, without  reference  to  this  father  also.  For  the  facts  of 
his  earlier  days  herein  noted,  we  are  mainly  indebted  to  the 
sketch  by  Dr.  Beard. 

Mr.  McAdow  was  born  April  10,  1760,  in  Guilford  county, 
North  Carolina.  His  father's  name  was  John,  and  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Ellen  Nelson.  They  were  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  were  Presbyterians,  members  of 
Buffalo  congregation,  of  which  Rev.  David  Caldwell  was 
pastor.  Mr.  McAdow's  mother  died  when  he  was  about  ten 
years  of  age.  When  about  eleven  years  of  age  he  professed 
religion  and  joined  Mr.  Caldwell's  church.  He  was  living 
on  a  farm,  but  when  quite  young  he  was  placed  at  Mr.  Cald- 
well's school  for  a  regular  and  thorough  education.  The 
Revolutionary  War  broke  up  the  school  for  a  time,  but 
after  it  was  over  he  resumed  his  studies  and  completed  an 
academic  course.  He  afterwards  attended  for  three  years 
the  Mecklenburg  College,  where  he  finished  his  education. 
In  the  meantime  his  father  died.  He  returned  home  to  the 
farm,  and  on  Nov.  24th,  1788,  was  married  to  Henrietta 
Wheatley.  Five  children  were  the  result  of  tlrs  union,  all 
but  one  dying  in  infancy. 

His  impressions  to  preach  the  gospel  began  shortly  after 
he  professed  religion,  but  he  did  not  begin  the  preparation 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  169 

till  after  he  was  head  of  a  family.  He  began  the  study  of 
theology  under  Dr.  Caldwell,  and  on  the  2Oth  of  September, 
1794,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Orange, 
the  oldest  Presbytery  in  North  Carolina.  In  this  Presbytery 
at  the  time  of  his  licensure  were  Mr.  McGready,  William 
McGee,  William  Hodge,  and  others,  who  figured  largely  in 
after  years  in  the  revival  measures  and  times  of  the  Cumber- 
land country.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery, 
but  the  exact  time  is  not  known.  It  was  prior  to  1799.  He 
was  for  a  time  pastor  of  Hope  well  congregation,  in  North 
Carolina.  His  wife  died  April  2Oth,  1799.  After  this  sad 
event  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  Western  country,  several 
acquaintances  and  a  number  of  relatives  having  already  gone 
to  Kentucky.  He  started  in  1799,  but  stopped  one  Summer 
in  East  Tennessee,  during  which  time  he  preached  to  a  con- 
gregation called  Big  Limestone.  This  congregation  was 
exceedingly  anxious  for  him  to  remain  their  pastor,  but  his 
mind  was  fixed  upon  Kentucky,  and  therefore  in  the  Fall  he 
came  on  to  Kentucky,  and  found  the  great  revival  in  full 
blast.  He  preached  to  Red  River  church  in  Logan  county, 
and  Rock  Bridge  in  Christian  county. 

He  was  married  the  second  time  to  a  Miss  Catherine  Clark, 
of  Logan  county,  a  very  pious  woman.  One  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, was  the  fruit  of  this  marriage.  On  the  I7th  of  May, 
1804,  his  second  wife  died.  Committing  his  two  little 
daughters  to  the  care  of  a  sister,  he  traveled  and  preached 
extensively,  and  thus  continued  until  he  became  almost 
entirely  disabled  by  an  affection  of  the  lungs.  In  July,  1806, 
he  married  the  third  time  to  Miss  Hannah  Coke.  Two  sons 
resulted  from  this  marriage.  He  now  bought  land  and  settled 
in  Dixon  county,  Tennessee,  and  taught  school.  Here  he 
remained  till  1815.  He  was  residing  here  at  the  ever  memo- 
rable period  of  the  organization  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  To  quote  the  very  appropriate 
language  of  Dr.  Beard,  ^"The  house  has  become  historical. 


170  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

It  was  an  unpretending  building  on  the  bank  of  Jones  Creek, 
about  seven  miles  frcm  Charlotte.  The  good  men  who 
prayed  and  acted  on  that  occasion  had  no  conception  of  what 
the  result  would  be." — Beard's  Sketches,  page  n. 

After  the  year  1815  he  lived  a  short  time  in  Jackson  county. 
In  1828  he  removed  to  Bond  county,  Illinois.  From  age  and 
infirmity  he  seldom  preached  here,  but  never  failed  to  throw 
his  influence  at  all  times  in  favor  of  religion.  On  Jure  3d, 
1839,  he  lost  his  third  wife. 

He  became  a  member  of  Vandalia  Presb}tery  in  rather  an 
irregular  way.  We  do  not  find  anywhere  on  the  records 
when  he  joined  by  letter  or  otherwise.  There  may  be  such 
record,  and  we  have  overlooked  it.  The  action  of  Presbytery 
making  him  a  member  has  been  recorded  elsewhere.  Father 
McAdow  had  been  in  the  country  about  ten  years,  and  was 
in  it  when  the  Presbytery  was  organized ;  but  there  is  no 
mention  of  his  name.  Perhaps  his  age  and  infirmities  pre- 
vented him  from  attending,  and  the  meetings  of  the  Presbytery 
were  seldom  near  his  residence.  He  was  sixty-eight  years 
old  when  he  first  settled  in  Illinois.  From  the  time  of  the 
death  of  his  last  wife  he  seemed  to  fall  into  a  rather  gloomy 
and  despondent  mood,  not  about  the  Church  or  the  cause  of 
Christ,  but  about  his  own  home  enjoyments.  Still,  he  occa- 
sionally preached,  and  his  last  sermon  was  from  the  text, 
"Follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness,  without  which  no 
man  shall  see  the  Lord."  It  was  published  in  full  in  the 
Theological  Medium  of  1846.  His  last  words  are  reported 
to  have  been,  "All  is  peace.  My  work  is  done.  Everything 
is  ready.  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  die.  There  is  no 
doubt,  no  fear."  Suitable  resolutions  were  passed  in  relation 
to  his  death  by  the  Presbytery  at  its  next  session,  and  a  funeral 
discourse  was  preached  to  his  memory  by  Rev.  John  Barber. 
His  grave  is  in  the  cemetery  at  old  Mt.  Gile?d  church,  in 
Bond  county.  Many  of  his  grand-children  live  in  that  coun- 
try yet.  It  has  been  our  good  fortune  to  look  upon  that  little 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

mound  of  earth  several  times,  and  never  without  the  most 
strange  and  thrilling  emotions.  A  neat,  respectable  tomb- 
stone has  been  placed  at  the  grave  by  his  relatives. 

Mr.  McAdow  seems  never  to  have  been  a  "son  of  thunder," 
like  Ewing  and  King,  yet,  while  modest  and  unusually 
diffident  for  one  of  his  opportunities  and  abilities,  he  was 
firm  and 'steadfast  in  his  convictions  of  what  was  right.  He 
was  a  man  of  fair  abilities  as  a  preacher,  pretty  well  educated 
for  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and  a  man  of  unspotted  char- 
acter. He  lacked  only  a  little  of  eighty-eight  years  when  he 
died.  Had  it  not  been  for  his  decision,  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  might  not  have  existed.  Who  can  read 
the  thrilling  statement  of  his  anxious,  all-night  prayer  for 
light  and  guidance  before  the  organization,  without  feeling 
that  he  was  no  ordinary  man,  and  his  no  ordinary  degree  of 
piety.  Wherever  the  "medium  theology"  shall  be  known 
and  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  shall  be  heard  of, 
the  name  and  character  of  Samuel  McAdow  will  stand  out  in 
letters  of  living  light,  and,  we  doubt  not,  will  be  handed 
down  to  generations  yet  unborn  as  one  of  the  great  moral 
heroes  of  the  country  and  of  the  Western  continent. 

REV.    JAMES    ASHMORE. 

James  Ashmore  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Tennessee, 
August  17,  1807.  He  removed  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day, 
professed  religion  in  1831  or  1832  while  living  on  Pigeon 
Creek,  Clark  county,  and  the  same  Fall  united  with  the 
church  of  which  Rev.  Isaac  Hill  was  pastor.  He  joined 
Vandalia  Presbytery  in  June,  1833,  at  Mount  Zion,  Macon 
county,  was  licensed  to  preach  Oct.  17,  1835,  at  °^  Union 
(now  Irving)  church  in  Montgomery  county  by  the  same 
Presbytery,  and  was  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery  at 
Beaver  Creek  church  on  the  roth  of  October,  1837.  Rev. 
Daniel  Traughber  preached  the  ordination  sermon  from  Mai. 
ii.  7,  and  Rev.  Joel  Knight  presided  and  gave  the  charge. 


172  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

When  Foster  Presbytery  was  organized  Mr.  Ashmore 
became  a  member,  and  continues  to  be  a  member.  His 
home  is  in  Fairmount,  Vermillion  county. 

Few  men  in  the  church,  for  his  opportunities,  have  been 
as  useful.  When  he  began  operations  in  that  country  forty 
years  since,  it  was  a  wilderness,  spiritually  and  naturally. 
Mr.  Ashmore  has  been  a  great  revivalist.  He  organized  the 
first  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  in  that  country,  from 
which  a  large  number  of  other  congregations  has  sprung. 
Thousands  have  been  converted  under  his  ministrations,  and 
he  is  still  laboring  with  zeal  and  success,  although  he  is  more 
than  three  score  and  ten  years  old. 

In  a  conversation  with  the  writer  he  said  his  father  was 
raised  up  in  the  Catholic  faith,  and  when  he  was  a  boy  a 
Catholic  priest  visited  the  family,  and  urged  the  parents  to 
let  him  have  James,  and  he  would  take  him  to  Rome  and 
educate  him  for  the  priesthood.  The  father  consented,  but, 
when  the  time  drew  near  to  start  for  Italy,  Mrs.  Ashmore 
protested  so  strongly  against  giving  up  her  boy  that  the 
project  was  finally  relinquished  by  the  priest,  but  evidently 
with  reluctance.  He  also  stated  that  he  was  under  the  power 
of  conviction  for  sin  for  five  years  before  relief  came  to  his 
mind.  He  had  a  great  desire  and  a  wonderful  temptation  lo 
make  money  and  let  the  ministry  go,  and  only  gave  it  up  after 
he  had  lost  all  his  property.  Another  remarkable  incident 
in  his  history  was  the  conversion  of  his  father  under  his 
preaching.  The  old  gentleman  became  so  interested  about 
his  soul  that  he  followed  up  his  son's  appointments  on  the 
circuit,  and  embraced  the  Saviour  at  one  of  them. 

Mr.  Ashmore  has  been  married  three  times.  He  was  first 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  Armstrong  May  15,  1828,  at  her 
father's  residence.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah  M.  Newman, 
Oakland,  Illinois,  and  his  present  wife  was  Rebecca  I. 
Grimes.  All  of  his  wives  were  natives  of  the  State  of 
Tennessee.  He  has  eight  living  children  by  the  first  wife, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  173 

one  by  the  second,  and  five  by  the  last — fourteen  in  all. 
Several  are  dead. 

Mr.  Ashmore  rode  the  circuit  four  years,  and  settled  in 
Vermillion  county  in  1842.  He  organized  Mount  Pisgah 
church,  the  oldest  one  of  Cumberland  Presbyterians  in  the 
county,  to  which  he  preached  twenty-nine  years  as  pastor  or 
supply  without  any  interval ;  and  at  another  time  three  years 
more,  making  thirty-two  in  all  that  he  was  the  faithful  shep- 
herd of  this  flock.  It  is  questionable  whether  there  is  to  be 
found  another  connection  between  pastor  and  people  in  the 
State  of  equal  length. 

Mr.  Ashmore  has  been  a  man  of  excellent  constitution. 
For  the  most  part  he  has  enjoyed  good  health,  and  has  done 
an  immense  amount  of  ministerial  labor  without  being  remun- 
erated for  his  services  as  he  deserved.  He  has  organized 
thirty  congregations,  and  about  four  thousand  five  hundred 
souls  have  professed  faith  in  Christ  under  the  influence 
of  his  ministrations.  One  of  his  sons,  Rev.  H.  H.  Ash- 
more,  is  also  an  esteemed  and  very  useful  minister  of  the 
gospel. 

Father  Ashmore  never  claimed  to  be  an  orator  or  a  man  of 
learning,  his  opportunities  for  an  education  being  very  limited. 
But  he  is  claimed  by  others,  and  justly,  too,  as  one  of  the 
most  earnest,  industrious,  and  successful  ministers  in  the 
State.  Though  the  prime  of  his  life  was  spent  in  building 
up  the  Church  in  a  new  and  sparsely  settled  country,  and  he 
received  from  the  Church  only  a  pittance  in  the  way  of 
support,  yet  God  blessed  his  worldly  plans  so  that  he  and  his 
family  had  plenty ;  and  it  is  believed  that  he  is  in  comforta- 
ble circumstances  at  this  writing.  With  the  exception  of  his 
hearing,  which  is  somewhat  impaired,  he  retains  his  usual 
health  and  vigor,  although  in  his  seventy-first  year.  We 
should  have  mentioned  that  at  his  ordination  Rev.  Samuel 
McAdow,  one  of  the  original  three  founders  of  the  denomi- 
nation, was  present  and  participated  in  the  services. 


1 74  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

REV.    WILLIAM    FINLEY. 

Rev.  William  Finley  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ky.,  on 
the  3Oth  of  November,  1800.  His  parents  were  pious  people 
and  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  mother  died 
when  he  was  an  infant,  and  for  a  few  years  he  was  nursed 
and  brought  up  by  Mary  Taylor,  an  aunt.  His  father  in  a 
few  years  married  again,  and  removed  to  Robertson  county, 
Tennessee.  The  reader  will  remember  that  these  were  the 
times  of  the  great  revival  of  1800,  which  originated  in  this 
country  and  swept  all  over  it.  Mr.  Finley  when  quite  young 
was  the  subject  of  deep  and  abiding  convictions,  but  seems 
not  to  have  experienced  a  change  of  heart  until  he  was  a 
grown  man  and  married.  It  is  proper  to  state  here  that  the 
father  of  Mr.  Finley  early  became  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church,  and  of  course  was  a  decided 
advocate  of  the  revival  measures  of  that  day. 

While  quite  young — but  at  what  period  we  are  not  in- 
formed— he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hutchings,  and  soon  thereafter  removed  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Bond  county.  His  wife  and  several  brothers  and 
sisters  had  become  deeply  pious,  and  felt  and  manifested 
great  interest  for  his  salvation.  Since  a  child  he  had  been 
the  constant  subject  of  deep  conviction  for  sin,  and  often  had 
great  wrestlings  of  soul  on  the  subject.  Not  until  the  month 
of  October,  1825,  did  he  make  up  his  mind  fully  to  seek  God 
and  cast  all  his  care  upon  him.  It  was  at  old  Bethel  church, 
in  Bond  county,  at  a  sacramental  meeting  held  by  Presby- 
terians, and  in  which  Cumberland  Presbyterians  also  united 
and  labored  earnestly,  that  Mr.  Finley  found  the  "pearl  of 
great  price."  An  old  memorandum,  furnished  us  by  his 
son,  Dr.  W.  M.  Finley,  of  Salem,  111.,  tells  us  that  on 
Sabbath  night  of  that  meeting,  Oct.  6,  1825,  he  made  a  full 
surrender  of  all  to  Christ,  after  having  a  very  clear  and 
impressive  sense  of  his  lost  and  utterly  helpless  condition. 
For  some  days  after  he  experienced  this  great  change  he  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  175 

not  fully  satisfied,  fearing  he  had  been  deceived  and  the 
change  was  not  what  God  in  his  Word  required.  He  there- 
fore prayfully  read  the  Bible,  and  with  great  searchings  of 
heart  wrestled  with  God  for  a  positive  assurance  of  his  safety 
and  peace  with  God.  This  blessed  assurance  finally  came 
so  plain  and  satisfactory  that  he  could  no  longer  doubt. 
Happy  would  it  be  for  the  Christian  Church  now,  if  all  young 
converts  would  thus  carefully  examine  the  foundation  of  their 
hopes.  To  use  his  own  words  :  "This  great  question  being 
satisfactorily  settled,  I  at  once  took  up  my  cross,  and  en- 
gaged with  trembling  anxiety  in  the  discharge  of  Christian 
duty."  He  first  erected  the  family  altar,  and  there  offered 
his  morning  and  evening  sacrifice  to  God  for  himself  and 
family.  He  next  engaged  in  active  work  in  whatever  way  he 
could  do  good  in  the  revival  which  was  going  on  in  the 
neighborhood.  In  conversation,  prayer  and  exhortation  he 
was  very  active  and  very  useful.  Mr.  Finley  records  that 
for  some  years  after  his  conversion  he  was  sometimes  the 
subject  of  deep  gloom  and  perplexing  doubts  about  the  genu- 
ineness of  his  change.  But  searching  the  Scriptures  and 
fervent  prayer  enabled  him  finally  to  dispel  these  seasons  of 
gloom,  and  entertain  an  unshaken  confidence  and  assurance 
that  he  was  "accepted  in  the  Beloved." 

Not  long  after  his  conversion  and  union  with  the  Church 
he  felt  impressions  to  preach  the  gospel.  About  this  time 
Mr.  Finley's  mind  was  greatly  agitated  with  the  doctrinal 
questions  so  rife  in  that  period.  On  the  one  hand,  the  old 
system  of  decrees  and  election,  as  taught  in  the  Westminster 
standards,  (which,  after  a  thorough  investigation,  he  decided 
to  mean  nothing  less  than  absolute  fatality,)  he  found  he 
must  reject  if  he  believed  the  plain  teachings  of  God's  Word. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  apostasy  plank  in  the  Arminian 
system  seemed  to  his  mind  a  great  discouragement  to  a  peni- 
tent sinner.  Being  greatly  perplexed  with  these  doctrines  on 
either  hand,  he  says  in  his  memoranda,  "My  mind  found  a 


176  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

suitable  remedy  as  exhibited  in  what  is  sometimes  termed  the 
middle- ground  system,  rejecting  the  extremes  of  both  the 
Calvinistic  and  Arminian  systems."  He  kept  on  examining 
and  sifting  these  doctrines  until  he  became  thoroughly  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  the  doctrinal  stand-point  of  Cumberland 
Presbyterians,  which  position  he  preached  with  great  zeal, 
fervor  and  success  for  many  years  afterward.  His  choosing 
his  Church  was  wholly  from  principle,  and  not  merely  social 
circumstances  or  human  policy. 

The  following  letter  from  his  son,  W.  M.  Finley,  M.  D., 
of  Salem,  111.,  is  in  no  respect  an  exaggeration  of  the  industry 
and  success  of  this  laborious  servant  of  God.  It  is  due  to 
the  truth  of  history,  however,  to  record,  that  in  the  latter  part 
of  Mr.  Finley's  life,  on  account  of  trouble  which  arose  in  his 
Presbytery,  he  withdrew  from  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  was  not  re-united  with  it.  But  all  who  were 
conversant  with  his  preaching  and  his  feelings  testify  that  he 
carried  with  him  to  the  grave  his  early  attachment  to  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  her  doctrines.  It  was 
an  unfortunate  occurrence  which  severed  his  connection  with 
us,  but  of  the  right  or  the  wrong  of  his  course  in  this  matter 
we  desire  to  spend  no  opinion.  He  was  not  what  the  world 
would  call  a  learned  or  eloquent  preacher,  but  he  was  what 
was  perhaps  better:  a  truly  spiritual,  devoted  minister  of 
Jesus — one  than  whom  few  men  have  been  more  successful 
in  winning  souls  to  Christ.  To  say  that  he  had  his  weak 
places  and  made  blunders,  is  but  to  acknowledge  what  is 
applicable  to  the  best  of  men.  Of  Mr.  Finley's  family  we 
know  but  little,  save  that  he  was  married  twice.  His  last 
companion  yet  survives.  Of  the  children  by  the  first  wife 
we  have  no  knowledge,  except  of  the  very  worthy  son  who 
furnished  the  interesting  letter  mentioned  below,  and  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  nearly  all  the  information  obtained  re- 
specting the  life  of  his  father. 

"Rev.  Wm.  Finley,  after  he  made  a  profession  of  religion 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  177 

October  25,  1825,  united  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  was  soon  after  received  under  the  care  of 
Illinois  Presbytery  as  a  probationer  to  preach  the  gospel. 
How  long  he  was  a  probationer  and  when  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  I  know  not.*  But  I  have  often  heard  him  relate  the 
trials  and  hardships  under  which  he  labored  to  support  his 
family,  and  acquire  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  various 
branches  of  study  required  by  the  Bcok  of  Discipline  in 
order  to  fit  him  for  ordination. 

"My  earliest  recollection  of  my  father  is,  that  he  was 
seldom  at  home.  His  stay  at  home  was  always  more  like  a 
visit  than  anything  else.  He  never  took  much  interest  in  or 
trouble  about  the  cares  pertaining  to  the  small  farm  on  which 
he  resided.  My  mother  always  superintended  the  farm 
work.  If  mother  had  not  been  one  of  the  most  industrious 
of  women,  and  an  extra  good  manager  of  farming  and  finance, 
father  could  never  have  given  all  his  time  and  talents  to  the 
interests  of  the  Church.  His  compensation  was  so  small  that 
the  wants  of  the  family  would  have  compelled  him  to  seek 
some  other  means  for  their  support.  At  this  period  ( about 
1840)  father  traveled  and  preached  all  the  time.  His  preach- 
ing tours  generally  extended  from  six  weeks  to  two  months, 
during  which  time  he  was  never  at  horr.e. ,  He  was  then 
living  in  Pleasant  Prairie,  Bond  county,  where  he  resided 
about  ten  years.  In  1843  he  removed  to  VanBurensburgh, 
on  the  old  stage  road  from  Vandalia  to  Hillsboro.  Here  he 
taught  school  during  the  Winter  of  1843-4,  and  preached 
every  Saturday  and  Sabbath,  and  often  one  or  more  evenings 
during  the  week,  in  the  village  and  the  adjacent  neighborhood. 


*For  the  date  of  his  reception  and  licensure  sec  the  minutes  of  Illinois 
Presbytery,  published  in  the  first  part  of  this  work.  He  was  ordained  with 
Rev.  Isaac  Hill  by  Vandalia  Presbytery  at  Mt.  Zion  June  18,  1833.  Rev. 
Joel  Knight  preached  the  ordination  sermon,  Rev.  John  Barber,  Jr.,  presided, 
and  Rev.  John  Barber,  Sr.,  gave  the  charge.  We  quote  from  the  records. — 
EDITOR. 


178  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

"In  the  Spring  of  1844  he  went  to  Salem,  111.  He  had 
been  visiting  said  place  for  several  years,  and  preaching  in 
various  parts  of  Marion  county.  In  1840  I  think  he  organized 
a  congregation  called  Mt.  Carmel  (now  Kinmundy),  the  first 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  organization  ever  made  in  said 
county.  After  locating  in  Salem  he  soon  organized  a  con- 
gregation called  Bethel,  seven  miles  east  of  Salem,  and  in 
1846  he  organized  a  congregation  in  Salem,  and,  through  his 
own  labor  and  exertion,  the  congregation  erected  the  first 
house  of  worship  ever  put  up  in  Salem.  All  that  the  Salem 
congregation  ever  was,  or  now  is,  is  mainly  due  to  his  untir- 
ing efforts  in  its  behalf.  He  continued  to  preach  in  Marion 
county  and  the  adjoining  counties  for  about  twenty  years, 
and  by  him  and  his  unceasing  efforts  McLin  Presbytery  was 
organized,  to  supply  the  field  of  labor  that  he  had  mainly 
been  instrumental  in  opening  up  to  Cumberland  Presbyterian- 
ism.  He  organized  congregations  in  Fayette,  Clay,  Jefferson, 
Wayne,  White  and  Edwards  counties  during  his  ministry, 
which  formed  the  principal  field  of  his  labors,  and  most  of 
which  is  included  in  the  bounds  of  McLin  Presbytery.  He 
was  untiring  in  his  work,  going  from  house  to  house  and 
place  to  place,  preaching  daily.  I  think  that  the  statement 
is  strictly  true,  that  for  thirty  years  of  his  ministry  he 
averaged  as  much  as  one  sermon  per  day.  He  once  showed 
me  his  memorandum  book,  kept  for  five  years  just  preceding 
his  locating  in  Salem.  He  had  preached  on  an  average  one 
and  a  half  times  each  day  for  the  five  years,  traveled  twelve 
miles  each  day,  and  had  received  as  remuneration  $143  per 
year.  I  have  often  thought  that  he  could  visit  more  families, 
shake  more  people  by  the  hand  in  one  day,  than  any  modern 
politican  can  on  the  eve  of  an  important  election.  Such  was 
his  daily  life  for  over  forty  long,  weary  years.  He  devoted 
all  his  time  and  energies  both  of  body  and  mind,  to  the  cause 
of  the  blessed  Redeemer.  In  his  early  ministry  his  voice 
was  strong  and  his  zeal  unbounded,  and  as  such  he  was  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  179 

• 

successful  revivalist.  Camp  and  protracted  meetings  were 
never  complete  in  his  field  of  operations,  unless  'Uncle  Billy 
Finley,'  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  there  to  do  much 
of  the  preaching. 

"One  distinguishing  feature  in  his  life  was  the  great  influ- 
ence he  had  over  wicked  men.  They  all  respected  and 
loved  him.  Many  of  them  would  loan  him  money  on  his 
own  note,  or  often  on  his  own  wrord.  They  would  defend 
him  on  all  occasions  when  necessary,  and  contribute  liberally 
to  his  support,  even  when  unsolicited  by  any  one.  Though 
father  was  always  poor  financially,  and  often  borrowed 
money  in  small  sums,  he  always  had  good  credit,  and  always 
paid  his  debts  promptly  and  according  to  contract. 

"He  continued  his  ministerial  labors  until  his  death.  He 
never,  from  my  earliest  recollection,  engaged  in  any  business 
to  make  money,  and  seemed  not  to  regard  money  in  any 
other  light  than  a  means  to  supply  pressing  wants,  get  books, 
and  enable  him  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  taught  school 
only  a  few  quarter  sessions,  and  that  was  only  to  enable  him 
to  supply  the  direst  wants  of  his  family,  or  get  the  much- 
coveted  books. 

"The  last  sermon  he  ever  preached  was  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Salem,  a  few  days  before  his  death.  He  was  on 
a  visit  to  his  children  in  Salem,  having  some  three  years 
before  located  in  Williamson  county,  111.  He  died  on  the 
23d  day  of  November,  1870,  being  seventy  years  old  lacking 
but  seven  days.  His  last  sickness  was  of  short  duration. 
Just  before  his  death  it  is  said  by  those  present  that  he 
seemed  to  be  gone  for  several  moments,  and  then  to  revive 
for  a  short  time,  and  clearly  and  plainly  describe,  in  glowing 
terms,  the  appearance  of  Moses,  Daniel  and  St.  Paul — his 
three  favorite  Bible  characters.  He  also  told  of  hearing  the 
sweet  music  of  heaven  ;  and  then,  after  such  living  testimony 
to  the  truth  of  the  religion  he  had  so  long  preached,  he 
passed  away  with  a  sweet  smile  on  his  face.  And  thus  my 


l8o  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

• 

father  died,  in  full  hope  of  endless  happiness.  I  was  not 
permitted  to  be  present  with  him  in  his  last  hours,  but  from 
the  testimony  of  those  present  I  can  but  feel  that  he  died  a 
happy  and  triumphant  death,  and  entered  into  that  rest  pre- 
pared for  the  redeemed  in  heaven." 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

FROM  the  pen  of  Rev.  W.  D.  Dodds,  of  Chilicothe,  Mo., 
we  have  the  following  interesting  sketch  of  his  father, 

REV.    GILBERT    DODDS. 

"Rev.  Gilbert  Dodds  was  born  in  Spartinburg  District, 
South  Carolina,  on  the  6th  day  of  June,  1793.  He  was  the 
seventh  son  of  Francis  Dodds.  His  father's  family  started 
on  their  journey  from  Carolina  to  Western  Kentucky,  but 
the  father  sickened  and  died  on  the  route,  and  was  buried  at 
the  foot  of  Spencer's  Hill,  a  spur  of  Cumberland  mountains. 
The  widow  and  family  continued  their  journey,  and  arrived,  v 
without  any  other  misfortune,  in  the  land  of  their  destination. 
Here,  in  this  then  sparsely  settled  and  comparatively  wild 
region,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood. 

"In  a  new  country,  where  the  principal  attention  is  given  to 
the  erection  of  dwellings  and  opening  farms,  the  education 
of  the  youth,  to  a  great  extent,  is  lost  sight  of.  Hence,  the 
subject  of  our  sketch  enjoyed  but  few  advantages  for  acquir- 
ing an  education.  But  being  of  an  aspiring  mind,  and 
passionately  fond  of  reading,  he  left  no  stone  unturned  in 
the  pursuit  of  knowledge.  With  the  aid  of  a  Winter  term  at 
the  common  school  of  his  neighborhood,  he  obtained  a 
knowledge  of  the  primary  branches  of  an  English  educa- 
tion. 


l82  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

''About  the  time  he  arrived  at  the  years  of  manhood,  in 
his  eager  search  for  reading  matter  he  fell  in  with  Tom 
Paine's  'Age  of  Reason'  and  Volney's  'Ruins.'  The 
perusal  of  these  infidel  works,  as  he  often  remarked,  came 
very  near  ruining  his  soul.  But,  in  the  wise  Providence  of 
God,  whose  inscrutable  wisdom  had  marked  him  out  as 
one  of  his  chosen  vessels,  he  was  thrown  under  the  powerful 
ministry  of  the  Rev.  Finis  Ewing.  This  faithful  embassador 
of  Christ,  who  knew  all  the  lurking-places  of  the  infidel,  by 
his  logical  reasoning  and  powerful  gospel  appeals,  soon  scat- 
tered the  sophistries  of  Paine,  Volney,  and  all  the  hosts  of 
the  opposers  of  our  holy  religion,  to  the  four  winds.  The 
faithful  preaching  of  this  man  of  God  led  to  deep  and  serious 
thought,  and,  after  a  series  of  severe  mental  struggles,  he 
finally  yielded  himself  into  the  hands  of  a  merciful  Re- 
deemer. Not  long  after  he  embraced  religion  he,  to  the  best 
of  my  knowledge,  united  with  the  old  Bethlehem  congregation 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

"In  his  22d  3'ear  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Clinton,  of  Crittenden  county,  Ky.  Their  union  was 
in  all  respects  a  happy  one.  They  walked  the  pathway  of 
life  together  almost  fifty-one  years,  and  raised  a  family  of 
seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  they  lived  to  see 
grow  up  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  The  wife  and 
mother  departed  this  life  in  her  sixty-sixth  year  in  the  tri- 
umph of  a  living  faith  in  Christ,  having  been  a  member 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  over  forty-three 
years. 

"At  what  date  the  subject  of  our  sketch  united  with 
Presbytery  and  commenced  the  preparation  for  the  ministry 
we  are  not  able  to  say.  The  name  of  the  Presbytery,  how- 
ever, we  are  pretty  sure  was  old  Logan,  the  Presbytery  in 
which  old  father  William  Harris  lived,  labored  and  died. 
In  the  year  1824  he  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Sangamon 
county,  Illinois.  Here  he  united  with  Revs.  John  M.  Berry 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  183 

and  Thomas  Campbell  in  organizing  Sangamon  Presbytery.* 
During  the  early  years  of  his  ministry  in  Illinois  he  labored 
extensively  in  camp-meetings,  and  assisted  in  planting  a  great 
many  congregations  in  Central  Illinois.  He  often  conducted 
camp-meetings  without  any  ministerial  assistance.  We  have 
often  heard  him  say  he  had  to  travel  one  hundred  miles  to 
camp-meetings  and  Presbytery.  After  camp-meetings  came 
into  disuse  he  labored  extensively  in  protracted  meetings. 
His  labors  in  protracted  meetings  were  confined  mostly  to 
the  counties  of  Menard  and  Sangamon.  He  was  always  a 
zealous  advocate  of  temperance,  and  in  the  later  years  of  his 
life  he  delivered  many  lectures  on  the  subject,  and  aided 
extensively  in  organizing  temperance  societies. 

"The  last  eight  or  nine  years  of  his  life  his  health  became 
so  feeble  that  his  Presbytery  (Sangamon)  passed  an  order 
that  he  attend  its  sessions  at  discretion ;  but  he  always  made 
it  a  point,  although  in  feeble  health,  to  attend  Presbytery, 
and  take  part  in  its  deliberations.  During  the  last  five  years 
of  his  life  he  was  threatened  with  paralysis,  which  finally 
terminated  his  life  on  the  third  day  of  May,  1872,  he  wanting 
only  one  month  and  three  days  of  being  seventy-nine  years 
of  age.  During  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  seemed  to  enjoy 
much  of  the  comforts  of  that  blessed  religion  which  he  had 
preached  to  others  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  in  his  last  hours 
gave  strong  evidence  of  its  power  to  conquer  the  last  enemy, 
and  administer  an  abundant  entrance  into  the  everlasting 
kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Savior,. Jesus  Christ." 

REV.    DAVID   FOSTER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Rowan  count}', 
North  Carolina,  May  4th,  1780.  His  parents  were  William 
and  Nancy  Foster.  They  were  poor,  but  pious,  and  early 


*Mr.  Dodds  was  placed  under  the  care  of  Illinois  Presbytery  at  its  organ- 
ization as  a  candidate.  For  date  of  ordination  see  minutes  of  said  Presbytery 
published  elsewhere. — EDITOR. 


184  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

instructed  their  son  in  the  principles  of  Christianity.  When 
quite  young  David  became  a  member  of  a  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  Rev.  Dr.  McCorkle  was  pastor.  In  1797 
the  family  removed  to  Sumner  county,  Tennessee,  and  settled 
in  the  neighborhood  of  old  Shiloh  church,  to  which  they 
presented  their  letters.  Rev.  William  McGee  was  pastor. 
They  were  all — parents  and  son — examined  as  to  their  exper- 
imental religion,  in  addition  to  their  letters.  The  parents 
were  received,  but  the  son  advised  to  re-examine  the  founda- 
tion of  his  -hope.  This  he  did,  with  the  conclusion  that  he 
was  not  a  Christian.  He  began  to  seek  Christ  as  never 
before,  and  at  home,  in  a  quiet  way,  found  peace  with  God, 
and  soon  became  prominent  in  his  efforls  to  win  souls  tq 
Jesus. 

He  became  a  candidate  under  old  Cumberland  Presbytery, 
and  at  old  Red  River  meeting  house  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  October  2d,  1805.  Some  time  before  his  licensure 
he  had  traveled  as  a  licensed  "exhorter,"  in  supplying  the 
great  destitutions  of  that  day.  Of  course  he,  among  others, 
fell  under  the  ban  of  the  famous  "commission"  of  Kentucky 
Synod;  yet  he  continued  his  labors  under  the  "council" 
which  succeeded  the  dissolution  of  the  Presbytery,  and  never 
did  he  seem  to  labor  with  more  success  than  in  those  dark 
days. 

In  the  Summer  of  1806  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann 
Beard,  of  Sumner  county,  who  was  a  noble  Christian  woman, 
full  of  faith,  devoutly  consecrated  to  the  Master,  and  a  good 
help-meet  for  her  husband.  In  1808  Mr.  Foster  moved  to 
Wilson  county,  and  settled  in  Suggs  Creek  congregation. 
Shortly  after  the  re-organization  of  Cumberland  Presbytery 
he  was  set  apart  to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry  July  27, 
1810,  at  the  Suggs  Creek  church,  and  at  the  same  time  was 
installed  pastor  of  that  church.  He  also  preached  to  two 
other  churches  a  part  of  the  time  during  his  pastorate,  until 
1824.  A  large  portion  of  his  time  was  spent  annually  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  185 

attending  camp  and  protracted  meetings,  to  which  he  was 
appointed  by  his  Presbytery. 

In  1827  he  removed  to  Illinois,  where  it  was  little  else  than 
a  vast  wilderness.  Dr.  Beard  says,  (Biographical  Sketches, 
vol.  i,  page  66,)  that  both  he  and  his  wife  were  anti-slavery 
in  their  feelings  and  views,  and  gives  this  as  one  reason  for  his 
removal  to  Illinois.  He  first  settled  in  Sangamon  county,  after- 
wards in  Macon  county,  and  for  a  time  was  colporteur  for 
the  American  Tract  Society.  He  was  on  a  visit  to  St.  Louis 
May  7th,  1833,  tne  Jear  cholqra  first  visited  that  city,  to  get 
a  fresh  supply  of  books.  On  his  way  home  the  next  day  he 
was  attacked  with  cholera  and  died  on  Silver  Creek,  Madison 
county,  the  pth  of  May,  1833.  He  was  buried  near  by 
where  he  died.  He  was  away  from  home,  but  he  had 
friends  with  him  who  did  all  in  their  power  to  save  him. 
He  retained  his  consciousness  to  the  last,  and  died  resigned 
and  peaceful.  His  death  was  a  heavy  stroke  to  the  few  and 
scattered  churches  in  this  country*  No  man  was  more 
beloved  by  the  people  than  he. 

Mr.  Foster  has  left  his  mark  all  over  the  churches  of 
Illinois.  He  was  first  a  member  of  Illinois  Presbytery, 
where  his  seat  was  never  vacant  unless  he  was  hindered  by 
Providence.  When  Sangamon  Presbytery  was  organized  he 
became  a  member  of  that  Presbytery ;  and  when  Vandalia 
was  organized  he  fell  within  her  bounds.  He  organized  the 
churches  at  Mt.  Zion  and  Bethany,  from  which  many  large 
and  prosperous  congregations  have  gone  forth.  Many 
others  were  fostered  by  him.  It  may  well  be  said  that  his 
praise  was  in  all  the  churches.  Many  are  found  now  who 
revere  his  memory.  It  was  never  the  privilege  of  the  writer 
to  meet  with  him  ;  but,  what  is  perhaps  better,  he  has  met 
with  his  works  all  over  the  country.  "He,  being  dead,  yet 
speaketh."  Evidently  he  was  a  devoted  man.  He  lived 
every  day  for  the  Lord  and  his  cause.  Though  not  a  bril- 
liant preacher,  yet  he  was  a  preacher  of  more  than  ordinary 


1 86  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

intelligence,  zeal  and  success.  As  a  worthy  testimonial  to 
his  memory,  Central  Illinois  Synod — Vandalia  Presbytery 
in  particular — have  provided  the  means  to  have  the  old 
decaying  limestone  rocks,  which  were  at  first  placed  at  his 
grave,  supplanted  by  respectable  modern  marble  tombstones. 
It  is  not  known  to  the  writer  whether  his  companion  or  any 
of  his  six  children  are  living ;  nor,  if  living,  where  they 
reside. 

The  action  of  Vandalia  Presbytery  in  regard  to  his  death 
may  be  found  elsewhere.  At  the  session  of  Illinois  Synod 
which  met  at  Pisgah  meeting  house,  St.  Louis  county,  Mo., 
October  17,  1833,  we  find  the  following  appropriate  record 
of  Mr.  Foster's  death  : 

" WHEREAS,  it  has  pleased  the  great  Head  of  the  Church 
to  remove  by  death  from  the  councils  and  labors  of  this 
Synod  the  Rev.  David  Foster,  the  Moderator  of  the  former 
session,  and  one  of  her  most  aged  and  useful  members  ; 

Resolved,  therefore, 'that  this  Synod  feel  deeply  sensible 
of  the  bereavement  occasioned  by  this  solemn  dispensation 
of  divine  Providence,  and  that  the  Synod  cherish  with  very 
fond  remembrance  the  memory  of  her  dear  departed  fellow- 
laborer."  The  minute  in  both  instances  is  short,  but  is  a 
true  expression  of  what  was  felt  in  reference  to  this  good 
man.  The  men  of  those  days  were  men  of  comparatively 
few  words,  but  they  said  nothing  they  did  not  mean. 

REV.    WOODS    M' COWAN    HAMILTON. 

His  son  gives  the  following  : 

"Some  time  in  the  year  1790  my  grand-parents  started  to 
move  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky,  but,  in  consequence  of 
troubles  with  the  Cherokee  Indians,  they  stopped  on  Little 
Pigeon,  in  Severe  county,  East  Tennessee,  where  my  father, 
Woods  McCowan  Hamilton,  was  born,  on  the  3d  day  of 
June,  1791.  He  was  the  youngest  of  eight  sons  and  one 
daughter,  there  being  one  daughter  younger  than  he.  Grand- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  187 

father  died  in  1799;  and  as  that  part  of  Kentucky 
(Livingstone  county)  was  sparsely  settled,  my  father  had  but 
little  chance  of  attending  school.  I  think  about  six  months' 
irregular  schooling  is  about  all  he  ever  had. 

"After  grand-mother  died,  my  father,  a  lad  of  perhaps 
thirteen  or  fourteen,  came  to  Illinois  to  live  with  an  older 
brother,  Patrick  Hamilton,  who  was  engaged  in  making 
salt  on  the  Saline  in  Gallatin  county.  While  thus  engaged 
he  was  sent  by  his  brother,  in  company  with  another  man, 
on  foot  back  to  his  old  home  in  Kentucky.  It  was  '  in  the 
Winter.  The  waters  had  been  very  high  and  had  frozen 
over.  Then  it  snowed,  so  that  the  road  could  not  be  seen. 
They  got  lost,  and  were  without  fire  or  food  for  over  two 
days  ;  and  when  at  last  they  got  to  a  house  my  father's  feet 
were  frozen  so  badly  that  it  was  over  six  months  before  he 
could  stand  on  them,  having  lost  nearly  half  his  toes,  which 
rendered  him  a  cripple  through  life.  During  this  affliction 
he  obtained  books,  and  made  considerable  progress  in  the 
elementary  branches.  So  strong  was  his  thirst  for  know- 
ledge, that  after  he  got  able  to  work  he  spent  every  night  in 
study  by  the  light  of  a  burning  pine  knot.  In  a  few  years  he 
commenced  teaching,  which  afforded  him  better  opportunities 
of  study  and  improvement. 

"During  these  years,  and  while,  as  he  says,  he  was  very 
wicked,  he  became  acquainted  with  my  mother,  Jane  M. 
McCluskey.  Through  her  influence  he  became  deeply  con- 
victed, and  after  a  hard  struggle  of  over  six  weeks  was 
converted,  and  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Afterward 
in  1811  he  and  my  mother  were  married.  On  the  29th  of 
November,  1812,  I  was  born,  and  was  baptized  by  the  Rev. 
David  Dickey,  a  Presbyterian  minister.  In  about  1818 
father,  having  for  a  long  time  been  deeply  impressed  that  it  was 
his  duty  to  preach,  and,  although  a  pretty  thorough  English 
scholar,  having  no  hope  of  ever  being  qualified  in  accordance 
with  the  standard  of  the  old  Church,  withdrew  his  connection 


188  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

and  joined  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  Soon  he  was 
admitted  as  a  candidate  in  Logan  Presbytery,  and  was  sent 
as  a  missionary  to  Illinois.  I  think  he  must  have  spent  two 
or  three  years  in  this  work  before  he  moved  his  family, 
which  he  did  in  the  Spring  of  1822.  The  first  Summer  the 
family  lived  in  Thorn's  Prairie,  on  Enoch  Beach's  Farm,  in 
Wayne  count}-.  The  next  Fall  we  moved  to  Long  Prairie, 
same  county,  lived  through  the  Winter  and  next  Summer, 
and  in  that  Fall  moved  to  Burnt  Prairie,  in  White  county, 
where  we  lived  for  over  twenty-five  years,  and  where  my 
mother  died  in  1832.  In  1845  or  1846  the  family  started  to 
move  to  Jonesboro,  Union  county,  but  on  account  of  sickness 
had  to  stop  over  for  one  year  in  Williamson  county.  My 
father  died  at  his  farm  two  miles  north  of  Jonesboro  station, 
on  the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  on  February  7th,  1865,  and 
was  buried  at  Jonesboro. 

"During  his  first  year  as  missionary  to  Illinois  I  think  he 
was  associated  with  another  minister,  but  I  do  not  know  who. 
Afterward  W.  H.  McCluskey,  a  cousin  of  my  mother,  and 
James  S.  Alexander  were  each  sent  out  with  him.  After- 
ward McCluskey  went  to  Indiana,  where  he  labored 
successfully  for  many  years.  In  earl}-  Spring  of  1822,  just 
before  we  left  Kentucky,  my  father  was  ordained  by  Logan 
Presbytery.  Of  his  missionary  labors  I  can  say  but  little,  as 
I  was  too  young  to  understand  much  ;  but  from  what  I  have 
since  learned  I  think  he  was  very  successful.  In  fact,  I 
have  met  with  quite  a  number  who  became  acquainted  with 
him  in  those  days,  and  they  all  seemed  to  think  and  speak  of 
him  in  the  highest  terms. 

"After  we  moved  to  Illinois  I  do  not  recollect  that  he  spent 
much  of  his  time  in  missionary  work — at  least,  not  after  the 
first  three  or  four  years — but  was  always  engaged  in  preach- 
ing some  place  on  Sunday,  and  very  often  the  Saturday 
previous.  In  thinking  back,  although  it  is  a  good  many 
years,  I  cannot  now  remember  of  my  father  being  idle 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I) 

On  the  Sabbath,  unless  he  or  some  of  the  family  was  sick,  or 
there  was  a  meeting  in  our  church  at  which  other  ministers 
were  present.  In  fact,  I  think  I  may  safely  say  that  during 
his  long  life  he  spent  it  all  in  preaching  and  laboring  to  save 
men  from  sin  and  death.  He  was  always  poor,  and  had  to 
engage  in  any  pursuit  which  promised  a  support  for  his  large 
family.  I  recollect  during  my  early  years  that  he  made  all 
the  shoes  for  his  family.  Afterward  he  obtained  a  set  of 
tools  and  worked  at  the  carpenter  business  during  the  Fall 
and  Winter.  We  always  lived  on  a  farm,  and  during  the 
Summer  were  engaged  in  farming  operations  as  long  as  I 
remained  at  home,  and,  in  fact,  until  they  moved  to  Jones- 
boro. 

"In  those  days  people  never  thought  of,  or  at  least  did  not 
give  the  preacher  anything  for  his  services,  particularly 
money.  Sometimes  a  sister  would  give  a  pair  of  socks,  the 
cloth  for  a  vest,  a  pair  of  pants,  or  some  other  article,  which 
were  always  very  acceptable.  I  recollect  that  once  a  man  in 
Seven  Mile  Prairie,  a  Mr.  Anderson,  I  think,  made  and  gave 
my  father  a  pair  of  calf  boots,  which  lasted  him  several  years 
for  Sunday  wear. 

"I  recollect  while  living  at  home  of  seeing  and  reading 
quite  a  number  of  poems,  songs,  and  other  pieces  of  his 
composition,  only  a  few  of  which  can  now  be  found.  I  also 
remember  that  I  used  to  think  they  were  very  good,  and  tried 
to  have  him  get  them  printed  ;  but  on  account  of  his  extreme 
diffidence  he  would  never  consent  to  do  so.  Later,  he  wrote 
out  and  had  printed  a  full  set  of  questions  and  answers  on 
the  several  branches  of  examination  of  licentiates  preparatory 
to  ordination,  some  of  which  I  had,  but  cannot  now  find. 
Several  other  productions  of  his  I  have  seen  from  time  to 
time,  but  none  of  them  can  now  be  found,  except  the  short 
sketch  of  his  early  life  already  referred  to.  My  brother  tells 
me  that  in  or  about  1856  Bro.  Logan,  then  of  Alton,  pub- 
lished, bound,  and  shipped  a  box'  of  hymn  books  compiled 


190  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

and  composed  by  my  father.*  With  the  two  exceptions,  I 
do  not  know  of  my  father  ever  having  any  of  his  writings 
published.  He  seemed  to  think  or  feel  that  they  were  not 
worth  preserving  or  (what  is  likely  the  true  reason)  shrank 
from  publicity.  In  the  short  sketch  already  referred  to  is 
found  this  quotation  from  Pope  : 

"  Thus  let  me  live,  unseen,  unknown; 

Thus  unlamented  let  me  die — 
Steal  from  the  world,  and  not  a  stone 

To  tell  where  I  lie.'  " 

The  writer  had  a  slight  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Hamilton 
before  his  death,  and  had  been  in  his  company  at  the  judica- 
tories  of  the  Church  several  times.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling 
worth.  He  had  more  than  ordinary  diffidence  in  his  deport- 
ment in  society.  Some  of  his  letters  on  divinity  were 
published  in  the  Missouri  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  which 
always  denoted  more  than  usual  profundity  of  thought  and 
clearness  of  statement  in  his  propositions.  He  was  in  the 
General  Assembly  in  1863  when  the  war  was  raging  in  all  its 
fury,  and  when  the  whole  country  was  intensely  agitated 
over  the  war  questions.  The  Assembly  met  in  Alton,  in  the 
church  of  which  the  writer  was  pastor.  The  questions  of 
slavery  and  the  rebellion  were  introduced  by  a  memorial 
from  Ohio  Synod.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  consider 
the  memorial,  consisting  of  one  from  each  Synod  represented 
there.  They  made  a  report,  which  was  adopted  with  but 
two  dissenting  votes.  A  motion  was  then  made  that  the 
Assembly  join  in  prayer,  and  that  the  oldest  man  present 
lead  the  devotions.  This  was  done,  and  Mr.  Hamilton  led 
the  prayer,  which  was  eloquent,  solemn  and  exceedingly 
earnest,  and  seemed  to  reach  the  very  throne  of  the  Deity. 
This  was  the  last  time  we  ever  met,  or  that  he  ever  attended 
the  General  Assembly.  We  know  that  he  was  greatly  es- 


*This  is  a  mistake.     The  writer  while  in  St.  Louis  published  for  the  author 
e  questions  and  answers  referred  to,  but  not  the  latter  book.— Enmnl. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  19! 

teemed  by  his  neighbors,  irrespective  of  creed  or  religious 
opinions.  If  there  was  any  one  mark  which  distinguished 
Mr.  Hamilton  more  than  another,  it  was  his  humility,  his 
self-abasement.  He  had  an  exceedingly  low  opinion  of  his 
own  efforts.  We  greatly  regret  that  we  have  been  able  to 
obtain  no  more  satisfactory  account  of  the  life  and  labors  of 
•this  dear  old  father  in  Israel. 

REV.    DANIEL    TRAUGHBER. 

The  following  sketch  of  Mr.  Traughber  is  from  the  pen 
of  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  R.  K.  Lansden,  of  Fredonia,  Kansas  : 

"The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Logan  county, 
Kentucky,  May  18,  1800,  and  professed  religion  in  July, 
1821.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel 
in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  October,  1824 ; 
and  four  years  thereafter  (1828)  he  was  ordained  and  set 
apart  to  the  whole  office  of  the  Christian  ministry  in  the 
Church  until  the  close  of  his  life.  From  the  time  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  until  1836  he  officiated  in  his  native  State 
as  an  efficient  minister,  when  he  moved  and  settled  in  Macon 
county,  Illinois.  Here  he  took  charge  of  Mt.  Zion  church, 
over  which  he  presided  for  twenty-five  years,  when  he  was 
compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  ill  health.  For  several 
years  after  resigning  as  pastor  of  Mt.  Zion  church  he  was 
not  engaged  in  the  direct  and  particular  work  of  the  ministry, 
though  he  preached  much,  and  was  very  useful  in  building 
up  the  Church  in  numbers  and  spiritual  strength.  In  this 
way  he  labored  until  1872,  when  he  came  to  Kansas,  where 
he  was  active  and  untiring  in  his  ministerial  duties  until  he 
passed  away. 

"He  was  married  three  times.  All  three  of  his  compan- 
ions were  excellent  Christian  women,  and  all  preceded  him 
to  the  glory  land. 

"On  the  evening  of  the  i^th  December  he  and  the  writer 
went  some  five  miles  from  town  to  hold  a  temperance  meet- 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

ing  in  the  interest  of  the  Murphy  movement.  He  spoke 
about  an  hour  with  great  earnestness.  We  had  a  very 
enthusiastic  time  and  he  was  very  much  elated.  He  had  to 
go  one  mile  to  stay  all  night,  and  I  suppose  took  cold,  which 
caused  a  severe  attack  of  an  old  disease.  The  children  were 
sent  for  about  seven  o'clock.  We  called  three  of  the  best 
physicians  we  could  get,  but  all  their  efforts  were  of  no  avail. 
After  I  had  been  in  the  room  a  few  minutes  he  called  me  to 
him  and  said :  'Robert,  my  poor  old  frame  can't  stand  this 
long.  I  want  you  to  call  the  friends  around,  and  sing  and 
pray,  that  I  may  see  my  way  clear ;  and  if  God  says  go,  I 
say  go,  too.'  This  was  the  last  he  said  about  his  own  case. 
He  lingered  in  great  pain  until  two  o'clock  on  Sabbath 
morning,  when  he  became  unconscious,  and  continued  so 
until  half-past  one  in  the  evening,  when  his  spirit  took  its 
flight  to  that  upper  and  better  world.  He  has  gone  to  join 
his  co-laborers — Lansden,  Aston,  Knight,  Bryan,  and  many 
others  who  have  gone  before.  He  is  missed  in  this  country, 
where  he  was  very  useful.  He  leaves  six  children,  all  of 
whom  are  professors  of  religion  except  one,  and  many  sor- 
rowing friends  ;  but  we  mourn  not  as  those  having  no  hope.*' 
The  writer  will  add  a  few  reflections  of  his  own  in  regard 
to  the  deceased.  He  first  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Traughber  on  the  way  to  the  General  Assembly,  which  met 
in  Princeton,  Kentucky,  in  1853.  He  and  many  other  dele- 
gates were  on  the  same  packet  which  left  the  warf  at  St. 
Louis  a  few  days  before  the  meeting  of  that  body.  After 
arriving  at  Princeton  we  were  assigned  to  the  same  boarding 
place ;  and  from  that  on  to  the  end  of  his  life  we  knew 
"Uncle  Daniel,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  and  knew  him 
well.  Few  men  of  our  Illinois  ministry  have  done  more  to 
build  up  the  Church  than  Mr.  Traughber.  He  was  a  genial, 
warm-hearted,  sunny-spirited  man.  He  was  a  good  speaker, 
always  won  the  respect  and  attention  of  his  audience,  and, 
like  most  of  his  compeers,  lived  and  died  with  a  character 


BIOGRAPHICAL,  193 

untarnished  in  every  particular.  He  was  very  successful  in 
getting  sinners  to  act,  even  when  others  failed.  He  was  of 
medium  stature,  heavily  built,  and  had  just  enough  of  the 
brogue  of  the  foreigner  to  make  his  language  attractive  when 
speaking.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual  energy  of  character, 
and  while  he  did  a  vast  amount  of  preaching  he  also  culti- 
vated and  carried  on  a  large  farm,  in  the  management  of 
which  he  seemed  always  to  prosper.  He  was  always  prompt 
and  punctual  in  attendance  upon  the  judicatories  of  the  Church. 
He  was  elected  Moderator  of  the  first  session  of  Central 
Illinois  Synod,  the  sessions  of  which  he  always  attended 
until  he  removed  beyond  her  bounds.  He  died  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Green  Beasley  near  Fredonia,  Kansas,  on 
December  i6th,  1877,  of  affection  of  the  kidneys,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy-seven  years  and  seven  months.  He 
leaves  thousands  over  all  the  West  to  mourn  his  departure. 

REV.    JOHN    CRAWFORD. 

Father  Crawford  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  living  ministers 
in  the  State.  He  says,  "I  was  born  in  South  Carolina  Jan. 
31,  1804."  The  fore  part  of  his  letter  relating  to  his  father's 
removal  to  Kentucky,  and  the  first  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
family  ever  on  Illinois  soil,  will  be  found  in  the  first  part  of  the 
volume.  He  dates  his  conviction  for  sin  to  a  sermon  Rev. 
Thomas  Campbell  preached  near  Golconda  on  his  way  to 
the  Sangamon  country  in  the  early  part  of  1822  ;  professed 
religion  at  old  Sugar  Creek  camp-ground  the  same  Fall. 
We  now  quote  from  his  manuscript  verbatim : 

"On  the  2d  day  of  March,  1825, 1  united  in  marriage  with 
Nancy  R.  Tagert,  and  moved  to  Village  church,  White 
county,  in  the  bounds  of  what  is  now  Ewing  Presbytery,  in 
September  of  the  same  year.  In  March,  1826,  I  joined 
Illinois  Presbytery  as  a  candidate,  which  then  embraced  the 
entire  State.  My  progress  was  slow,  being  very  deficient  in 
literature  and  means  to  acquire  it.  I  was  licensed  at  Bear 


194  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Creek  church,  Bond  county,  September  1831,  and  settled  in 
Gallatin  county  the  same  month.  I  was  ordained  at  Union 
Ridge  church  in  March,  1834.  My  time  has  been  mostly 
spent  in  efforts  to  supply  destitute  points.  I  have  traveled 
over  some  fifteen  counties  in  Southern  Illinois,  officiated  in 
the  organization  of  seven  congregations.  My  attendance  at 
Church  courts  has  been  :  General  Assemblies,  seven  ;  Syn- 
odical  meetings,  sixteen ;  Presbyteries,  one  hundred  and 
two ;  and  camp-meetings,  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight. 
I  am  now  in  my  seventy-fourth  year,  and  have  retired,  being 
prostrated  by  paralysis. 

4 'The  following  transpired  in  the  bounds  of  what  is  now 
Evving  Presbytery :  A  camp-meeting  was  held  in  the  vicinity 
of  Shawneetown  at  an  early  date  (which  I  have  not)  by  John 
Barnett,  David  Lowry,  and  others.  There  were  many 
conversions  and  a  congregation  was  organized,  which  was 
vacated  by  the  removal  of  General  Street,  John  W.  McCord 
and  H.  Delaney.  Of  the  remaining  members  and  others  the 
Rev.  D.  W.  McLin  organized  New  Pleasant  church  in 
September,  1830,  at  the  present  site  of  New  Market.  Elders, 
James  Dillard,  John  Murphy  and  John  V.  Sherwood.  From 
this  church  were  stricken  off  Liberty,  Concord,  and  Walnut 
Grove,  all  of  which  have  much  declined  in  the  absence  of  a 
supply,  while  the  old  stand  is  enfeebled  by  the  change  of 
population." 

REV.   J.    R.    LOWRANCE. 

We  copy  the  following  brief  sketch  of  this  good  brother 
mainly  in  his  own  language  : 

"Jacob  Lowrance  was  my  grand-father.  His  ancestors 
were  Dissenters,  and  fled  from  persecution  from  England  to 
Scotland,  thence  to  Holland,  from  there  to  the  United  States, 
and  settled  in  the  Carolinas.  Samuel  Lowrance  was  my 
father.  He  was  born  in  South  Carolina  April  loth,  1792, 
immigrated  to  Georgia  in  early  life  with  his  parents,  and  then 
to  Tennessee,  and  with  his  father  settled  on  Bear  Creek, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  195 

Maury  county.  There  he  spent  his  youthful  days.  Grand- 
father and  father  were  elders  for  years  in  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  My  father  was  a  convert  of  the  great 
revival  of  1800.  He  sleeps  in  Jerseyville  cemetery,  Jersey 
county,  Illinois. 

"Rachel  Ramsey,  my  mother,  was  born  near  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  1781,  when  it  was  a  small  French  village,  and  it 
was  said  she  was  the  first  white  child  born  there.  She  was 
a  niece  of  Col.  Rev.  Joseph  Brown  and  Joseph  Porter,  who 
was  a  brother  of  James  B.  Porter.  My  mother  was  also  a 
subject  of  the  revival  of  1800,  and  a  member  of  Rev.  Craig- 
head's  congregation,  but  went  with  the  revival  party  and 
united  with  the  first  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  She  sleeps 
near  Manchester,  Morgan  county,  Illinois. 

"I  was  born  in  Maury  county,  Tennessee,  April  14,  1818 ; 
was  baptized  by  Rev.  Robert  Donnell  (author  of  'Donnell's 
Thought's').  My  first  serious  impressions  were  received 
under  my  father's  prayers  when  he  led  his  fomr  boys  with 
him  to  secret  devotion,  I  being  only  seven  years  of  age. 
They  were  renewed  at  old  Bear  Creek  camp-ground,  under 
the  shouting  and  exhortation  of  my  grand-father  on  Tuesday 
morning  as  the  meeting  was  closing  when  I  was  ten  years 
old.  In  the  Fall  of  1830  I  with  my  parents  immigrated  to 
Calaway  county,  Mo.,  and  there,  in  old  Providence  congrega- 
tion, I  was  again  awakened  in  Sabbath-school  under  James 
Nevins,  an  elder  in  said  church  and  my  Sabbath-school 
teacher.  On  September  2,  1833,  at  night,  I  was  born  into 
the  kingdom  of  Christ  during  a  camp-meeting  held  at  said 
church  by  Eli  Guthrie  and  David  Kirkpatrick.  O,  the  bliss 
and  glory  of  that  hour  !  There  my  eternal  life  began,  and 
for  over  forty  years  my  Savior  has  led  me  and  kept  me,  and 
he  will  keep  me  to  the  end. 

"I  was  then  fifteen  years,  four  months  and  seventeen  days 
old.  In  the  Spring  of  1835  I  with  my  parents  immigrated  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  near  Manchester  in  Morgan  county. 


196  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Here  on  a  farm  I  labored  for  my  father.  I  was  received  as 
a  candidate  for  the  ministry  by  Sangamon  Presbytery  at 
Sugar  Creek,  Sangamon  county,  April  5,  1837,  and  wrote 
three  discourses  :  first  from  Isaiah  Iv.  6,  then  from  Romans 
v.  i,  and  lastly  from  Hebrews  iv.  9.  The  Presbytery  was 
composed  of  J.  M.  Berry,  Thomas  Campbell,  Gilbert  Dodds, 
Benjamin  Canby  and  A.  W.  Lansden — five  of  the  noblest 
men  that  ever  lived.  I  was  licensed  at  old  Concord  near 
Petersburg  on  September  23,  1838,  at  a  camp-meeting. 
Benjamin  Canby  was  Moderator.  Then  for  four  years  and 
six  months  I  traveled  on  a  circuit  extending  from  Petersburg 
on  the  north  to  Jerseyville  on  the  south.  In  this  time  Rev. 
J.  G.  White  was  licensed  and  came  to  me,  and  for  years  we 
labored  together.  I  was  ordained  in  company  with  Bro.  J. 
G.  White  on  the  first  day  of  April,  1843,  at  Sugar  Creek, 
Sangamon  county,  Illinois.  Father  Berry  delivered  the 
sermon  from  I.  Timothy,  iv.  16.  From  the  Fall  of  1843  to 
1844  I  traveled  as  Synodical  missionary  and  held  revival 
meetings.  In  the  Fall  of  1845  I  took  charge  of  Stouts  Grove 
and  Shiloh  congregations,  in  Mackinaw  Presbytery,  as 
supply  until  the  Fall  of  1846,  on  a  salary  of  $160.  Then, 
on  the  second  day  of  January,  1847,  I  was,  by  order  of 
Mackinaw  Presbytery,  installed  pastor  of  Stouts  Grove  con- 
gregation. Bros.  Neill  and  Archibald  Johnson  officiated. 
My  salary  being  $200  and  board,  many  happy  days  I  spent 
in  this  congregation.  At  the  General  Assembly  in  1849  I 
received  the  appointment  as  agent  to  collect  funds  for  the 
Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Board.  In  this  work  I  trav- 
eled in  Missouri  and  Illinois.  In  the  Summer  of  1850  I 
preached  for  Stouts  Grove  (now  Danvers)  congregation,  and 
was  married  November  3d,  1850,  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  McClure, 
a  member  of  my  charge  and  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Malinda 
McClure.  She  was  a  convert  of  my  first  meeting  there,  and 
was  received  into  the  congregation  and  baptized  by  myself. 
In  1851  I  lived  and  labored  in  Bloomington,  111.,  and  but  for 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  197 

the  want  of  support  there  might  be  to-day  a  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church  there.  In  1853  I  removed  to  Hardin 
county,  Iowa,  then  on  the  frontier.  In  1857,  under  the  order 
of  Iowa  Synod,  I  located  in  Oskaloosa.  Here  I  toiled  until 
the  Fall  of  1866,  when  I  left  for  Illinois.  I  stopped  a  short 
time  at  Virginia ;  then,  in  April  1867,  ^  located  in  Lincoln 
and  took  charge  of  Union  congregation  all  my  time  on  a 
salary  of  $600.  By  a  request  of  ministers  I  left  Union  con- 
gregation and  took  charge  of  Danvers  congregation  Dec.  i, 
1867.  Here  I  labored  until  the  Fall  of  1870,  when  I  resigned 
and  took  charge  of  Albion  congregation,  in  Edwards  county, 
Illinois.  Each  of  these  last  congregations  gave  me  $1,000 
salary.  In  Albion  I  labored  until  August,  1874,  when  I 
returned  to  Lincoln  to  school  my  sons,  and  took  charge  of 
Union  and  Hopedale  (old  Shiloh)  congregations,  where  I 
am  now  serving  the  Church  as  best  I  can,  being  sixty  years 
of  age  in  April  14,  1878.  Here  I  am  on  my  way  home. 
Soon  my  work  will  be  over  here  below.  Rest  is"  near  before 
me." 

We  will  add,  that  we  have  known  Bro.  Lowrance  since 
the  Spring  of  1849  >  visited  his  family  not  long  since  and 
enjoyed  their  hospitalities.  He  is  still  in  good  health,  and 
bids  fair  for  many  years'  good  service  for  the  Master  yet. 
He  is  a  good  preacher,  sound  in  the  faith,  well  received,  and 
never  was  doing  more  good  than  at  present. 

REV.    CYRUS    1IAYNES. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Indell  county, 
North  Carolina,  June  16,  1805.  When  about  two. years  old 
he  came  to  Giles  county,  near  Cornersville,  Tennessee.  He 
was  converted  to  God  when  a  youth  in  that  same  country 
while  ploughing  in  the  field  of  his  father.  The  writer 
greatly  regrets  that,  after  repeated  efforts  to  obtain  the  nec- 
essary data  on  which  to  write  a  full  sketch  of  this  good 
man's  life  and  labors,  he  has  not  been  successful.  But  he 


198  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

has  determined  to  pen  what  he  knows,  believing  that  even 
this  will  be  better  than  passing  over  in  silence  the  life  and 
labors  of  one  who  bore  such  an  active  part  in  the  early  work 
of  the  Church  in  Illinois.  A  letter  from  Dr.  Beard,  of  Leb- 
anon, says : 

"My  first  knowledge  of  Rev.  Cyrus  Haynes  was  as  a 
student  of  Cumberland  College.  When  I  reached  that 
institution  in  May,  1830,  he  was  there  preparing  for  the 
ministry.  A  number  of  others  whose  names  I  call  to  mind 
were  there  engaged  in  the  same  way.  Elam  McCord,  Silas 
N.  Davis,  F.  C.  Usher,  J.  D.  Ferryman,  John  Napier,  T. 
B.  Reynolds,  were  among  the  number.  Mr.  Haynes  was 
one  of  the  oldest  of  those  whom  I  have  mentioned.  He  con- 
tinued a  student  to  September  of  that  year,  when  the  vacation 
occurred.  The  next  collegiate  year  commenced  in  Novem- 
ber. Rev.  Hiram  McDaniel  took  charge  of  the  farm  and 
boarding  house,  and  employed  Bro.  Haynes  to  superintend 
the  farm.  He  spent  one  year  in  that  business.  In  the 
following  year  he  entered  College  again,  and  graduated  in 
December  of  1833.  His  class  was  one  of  the  largest  and 
best  that  ever  left  the  institution.  Among  them  were  J.  F. 
Ford  and  W.  A.  Scott.  Both  of  these  with  Cyrus  Haynes 
were  licentiates  when  they  graduated.  Some  time  after  his 
graduation  he  went  to  Illinois,  and  I  only  met  him  casually 
afterwards,  mostly  at  meetings  of  the  General  Assembly. 
I  have  no  knowledge  of  his  earlier  history.  He  was  licensed 
and  ordained,  I  suppose,  by  what  was  then  Elk  Presbytery, 
and  is  now  a  part  of  the  same  under  the  old  name. 

"I  entertained  a  high  opinion  of  Bro.  Haynes,  not  so  much 
on  account  of  his  ability  as  his  integrity.  I  had  unbounded 
confidence  in  the  latter.  He  would  have  been  considered 
rather  eccentric.  And  he  was  inclined  to  extreme  opinions  ; 
but  he  filled  up  my  ideas  of  an  honest  man.  I  would  have 
trusted  him  anywhere  and  to  any  extent,  as  far  as  integrity 
of  purpose  was  concerned.  From  the  commencement  of  my 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  199 

acquaintance  with  him  he  was  more  to  me  than  a  common 
friend  and  brother.  The  last  time  he  was  at  my  house  he 
came  late  in  the  evening.  The  next  morning  I  asked  him  to 
lead  us  in  our  family  worship.  He  read  an  ordinary  portion 
of  Scripture,  and  commenced  to  lead  us  in  singing  the  old 

hymn : 

"  'Grace — 'tis  a  charming  sound, 
Harmonious  to  mine  ear.' " 

Before  we  were  half  through  the  hymn,  however,  he  broke 
down  under  the  force  of  his  feelings,  and  wept  like  a  child. 
It  was  a  good  morning  service,  and  the  last  we  ever  held 
together  in  that  capacity." 

We  find  on  the  minutes  of  the  Spring  session  of  Vandalia 
Presbytery  for  1834,  tna*  ne  was  received  as  a  licentiate 
from  Princeton  Presbytery,  Kentucky.  He  was  immediately 
placed  by  order  of  Presbytery  on  what  was  called  the  ' 'Shel- 
by ville  circuit,"  on  which  he  rode  five  months.  From  the 
records  of  this  Presbytery  we  also  find  he  was  ordained  to 
the  whole  work  of  the  ministry  at  Bethany  church,  Shelby 
county,  Illinois,  on  the  4th  of  October,  1834.  Rev.  John 
Barber,  Jr.,  preached  the  ordination  sermon  from  II.  Cor.  ii. 
15,  16,  and  Rev.  Joel  Knight  presided  and  gave  the  charge. 
At  the  same  session  we  find  an  order  for  Mr.  Haynes  to  ride 
"six  weeks"  the  Shelbyville  circuit ;  and  near  the  close  of 
the  proceedings  the  record  says  he  was  dismissed  by  letter. 
He  became  a  member  of  Sangamon  Presbytery  on  the  6th  of 
March,  1835,  that  body  being  in  session  at  Mount  Pleasant 
church,  Morgan  county.  At  this  session  Mr.  Haynes  was 
appointed  principal  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly. 
He  was  also  ordered  to  ride  aud  preach  in  what  was  called 
"the  military  tract,"  and  from  this  on  for  many  years  we  find 
the  records  of  this  and  other  Presbyteries  abounding  with 
work  connected  with  his  name  and  influence.  The  following 
is  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  J.  R.  Lowrance  : 

"Mr.  Haynes  came  to  Morgan  county,  111.,   in   1836,  and 


2OO  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

labored  in  Sangamon  Presbytery.  He  preached  the  funeral 
of  a  brother  of  mine — the  first  that  ever  occurred  in  my 
father's  family.  He  traveled  extensively  in  Central  Illinois, 
and  labored  incessantly  for  several  years.  He  opened  a 
school  in  McDonough  county,  near  Macomb.  Just  before 
this  he  was  married  to  a  Miss  Smith,  a  most  estimable  and 
pious  lady.  This  school  was  begun  about  1837  or  1838. 
J.  G.  White  and  I  were  pupils  in  this  school  about  1839.  He 
then  removed  his  school  to  Cherry  Grove.  Here  for  several 
years  he  was  quite  successful  in  his  school.  W.  S.  Camp- 
bell, James  McDowell,  and  others  of  useful  lives  were  among 
his  pupils.  For  some  cause  not  remembered  he  quit  this 
school,  and  about  1847  opened  a  school  in  Stouts  Grove, 
McLean  county,  Illinois.  Here  his  noble  wife  ended  her 
useful  life  of  toil,  and  the  writer  preached  her  funeral. 
After  a  few  years  of  successful  teaching  he  ceased  to  teach, 
entered  on  the  active  labors  of  a  traveling  minister,  and  went 
to  the  State  of  Iowa.  Here  he  was  again  married  to  a  Miss 
E.  T.  Biddle  Dec.  3,  1852,  another  noble,  intelligent,  and 
pious  lady.  He  traveled  and  preached  for  years  all  over 
Southern  Iowa,  an  indefatigable  worker.  About  1860  his 
health  gave  way,  and  for  a  time  his  mind  was  somewhat 
injured.  In  1869  or  1870  he  removed  to  Northern  Missouri, 
and  there  he  sleeps  in  Jesus.  He  was  a  fine  scholar  and  a 
great  student.  He  published  a  very  learned  comment  on  the 
sixth  chapter  of  Hebrews  in  or  near  1840.  A  good  reasoner, 
of  great  zeal  and  energy  of  character,  he,  as  all  others,  had 
faults.  But  he  loved  his  Church  and  his  brethren.  Above 
all,  he  loved  his  Savior,  and  was  deeply  devoted  to  the 
ministry." 

We  first  met  with  Mr.  Haynes  at  the  General  Assembly  at 
Princeton  in  1849.  He  was  elected  Clerk  of  that  body,  and 
it  was  the  lot  of  the  writer  to  be  assigned  to  the  same  board- 
ing place,  room  and  bed  with  him.  *A  very  kind  family  of 
Episcopalians,  whose  name  we  have  forgotten,  entertained 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  2OI 

us  very  hospitably.  For  years  afterwards,  and  until  near  his 
death,  we  often  met  in  the  Church  judicatories,  and  often 
corresponded.  He  certainly  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  energy,  of  untiring  industry,  and  undeviating  integ- 
rity. His  efforts  to  afford  the  Church  and  the  country  better 
educational  facilities  than  they  had  previously  enjoyed  were 
certainly  very  successful  and  worthy  of  all  praise.  The 
seminaries  of  Cherry  Grove  and  Stouts  Grove  in  that  day 
were  among  the  foremost  institutions  of  learning  in  the  State, 
and  quite  a  number  of  men  who  are  to-day  in  the  front  rank 
of  society  received  their  education,  in  whole  or  part,  from 
these  valuable  schools. 

The  last  time  we  met  with  Mr.  Haynes  was  at  the  General 
Assembly  in  1863  in  the  city  of  Alton.  He  was  only  a 
visitor,  and  evidently  was  laboring  under  some  mental  aber- 
ration. The  war  was  then  upon  us.  Darkness  and 
uncertainty,  like  a  universal  pall,  hung  over  the  land.  How 
much  of  his  seeming  mental  infirmity  might  have  resulted 
from  brooding  over  this  terrible  national  calamity,  we  do  not 
know.  We  have  never  heard  of  any  other  probable  cause. 
We  do  know  that  many  strong  minds  and  stout  hearts  quailed 
and  sank  down  into  the  grave  under  that  dreadful  ordeal. 
He  was  with  us  in  our  family  circle  for  some  days  after  the 
Assembly  closed,  and,  although  it  was  evident  that  his  mind 
was  to  some  extent  impaired,  there  was  nothing  in  his  acts 
which,  in  the  slightest  degree,  could  be  construed  into  con- 
duct immoral,  or  which  cast  any  doubt  upon  the  sincerity 
and  uprightness  of  his  former  Christian  or  ministerial  char- 
acter. We  felt  relieved  when  we  heard  he  had  gone  home, 

'•Wliere  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling, 
And  the  weary  are  at  rest?" 

Mr.  Haynes  left  a  devoted   companion  and  several  children, 
who  are  all  respectable  and  respected  wherever  known. 
Shortly  after  his  second   marriage   he   removed  to  Centre- 


2O2  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

ville,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  until  1866,  when  he  removed 
to  Putnam  county,  Missouri.  His  health  gradually  declined, 
until  July,  1871,  he  gave  up  all  out-door  life.  He  was 
confined  to  his  room  and  much  of  the  time  to  his  bed  until 
the  loth  of  December,  when,  in  the  language  of  his  bertaved 
companion,  feeling  his  end  drawing  near,  he  exclaimed,  "I 
feel  ready  and  willing  to  die  :"  and  sinking  into  a  peaceful 
slumber  his  soul  was  wafted  to  his  Father's  house  on  high. 

REV.    JOHN    BARBER,    JR. 

The  following  is  furnished  us  by  the  brother  of  the  de- 
.-d.  Rev.  W.  W.  M.  Barber,  of  Windsor,  111.  : 

••Rev.  John  Barber,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Lincoln  county. 
North  Carolina,  July  17,  1805,  and  immigrated  with  his 
father  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1815.  and  settled  with  the  family 
near  Edwardsville,  Madison  countv.  He  was  converted  at  a 

«/ 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  camp-meeting  in  Bond  countv. 
Illinois,  at  about  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  in  what  is  now 
Bear  Creek  congregation,  and  soon  became  a  member  of  the 
church.  His  conversion  was  very  palpable  and  striking. 
Although  he  was  so  young  and  naturally  very  diffident,  he 
pasted  through  the  congregation  with  expressions  spontane- 
ous, bold,  clear  and  powerful,  of  his  joy  and  happiness  under 
a  sense  of  the  pardoning,  saving  mercy  of  God  through 
Christ ;  and  powerfully  warning  and  exhorting  others,  and 
finally  calling  on  inanimate  nature — the  trees  and  all — to 
witness  that  he  then  and  there  dedicated  himself  to  the 
service  of  God.  He  was  received  as  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry  by  Illinois  Presbyter}-  at  Shiloh,  White  county,  111., 
October  loth,  1828,  from  Anderson  Presbytery,  he  having 
rirst  joined  the  latter  while  at  college.  There  was  an  inter- 
mediate Presbyter}-  appointed  to  license  him.  composed  of 
John  M.  Bern,-.  Thomas  Campbell,  Joel  Knight,  Gilbert 
Dodds,  and  John  Barber.  Sen.  :  but  he.  not  having  received 
his  letter  from  the  Anderson  Presbyter}-,  objected  to  being 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  2O3 

licensed  when  the  intermediate  Presbyter}*  met,  and  it  was 
not  done  till  the  regular  session,  which  was  held  at  Bear 
Creek,  Montgomery  county,  Illinois,  April  i6th,  1829.  He 
was  ordained  at  the  house  of  Joseph  McAdams  in  Bond 
countji,  Illinois,  March  I2th,  1831,  by  Illinois  Presbyter}'. 
By  his  own  untiring  efforts  and  what  assistance  his  father 
could  give  him  he  became  a  respectable  Greek  scholar, 
having  spent  two  years  at  old  Princeton  in  Cumberland 
College.  Soon  after  he  left  college  he  went  into  the  active 
labors  of  the  ministry,  and  was  soon  a  spiritual,  useful,  and 
popular  preacher.  At  about  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  was 
married  to  Miss  E.  A.  Robinson,  with  whom  he  lived  hap- 
pily a  little  over  eight  years.  A  part  of  the  time  he 
suffered  great  bodily  affliction,  but  enjoyed  great  peace 
of  mind.  He  at  length  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  leaving  his 
companion  with  four  children — three  daughters  and  one 
son. 

"Young  John  Barber,  as  he  was  called,  was  disposed  to  give 
himself  entirely  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  but,  the  Church 
at  that  time  not  being  able  to  do  a  great  deal,  and  not  being 
trained  to  do  what  she  could,  he,  like  other  ministers,  had  to 
get  a  support  from  some  other  source.  He  became  a  school 
teacher,  and  soon  became  eminent  in  that  calling,  as  well  as 
in  preaching.  He  possessed  a  clear,  investigating,  system- 
atic mind.  His  discussions  in  preaching  were  thorough, 
clear,  and  logical,  and  with  a  ready  flow  of  language.  His 
reasonings  and  arguments  were  close,  and  his  appeals  almost 
resistless.  But  he  was  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness. 
The  Church  had  flattering  prospects  in  him,  and  doubtless 
had  the  Church  sustained  him  she  might  have  enjoyed  his 
labors  much  longer. 

•'While  capable  of  active  effort,  in  order  to  be  as  much 
devoted  as  possible  to  his  ministerial  calling,  he  became  an 
agent  in  the  Bible  cause  for  a  time,  and  again  in  the  Tract 
cause  as  a  colporteur.  Under  these  circumstances  he  was 


204  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

strongly  urged  and  temptations  offered  to  him  to  change  his 
ecclesiastical  relations,  and  become  connected  with  some 
other  branch  of  the  Church.  It  was  urged  that  the  Church 
to  which  he  belonged  did  not  appreciate  his  talents,  useful- 
ness, &c.,  or  the\-  would  sustain  him.  He  would  bo  well 
sustained  with  others,  and  he  would  not  be  required  to  adopt 
any  other  system  of  theology  to  join  the  New  School  Pres- 
byterians ;  and  if  he  chose  to  join  the  Old  School,  why  not? 
If  he  should  have  to  adopt  their  Westminster  Confession,  he 
could  make  such  mental  reserves  as  were  indispensable  in 
order  to  meet  his  views  and  feelings  in  regard  to  doctrines. 
His  father  was  also  tempted  in  like  manner  as  he  was  ;  but 
their  loyalty  to  the  Church  was  not  measured  by  dollars  and 
cents,  and  they  therefore  could  not  be  bought.  They  had 
cast  their  lot  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
they  would  stand  by  her  in  her  difficulties  and  trials,  and 
co-operate  with  and  assist  others  in  bringing  about  reforma- 
tions and  improvements.  They  belonged  to  the  Church. 
They  had  joined  the  army  in  good  faith,  and  they  never 
would  desert  it  in  order  to  support  a  family. 

"His  companion  and  four  children  are  still  living.  The 
t\vo  oldest  daughters  and  the  son  are  married.  The  oldest 
is  the  wife  of  Rev.  T.  K.  Hedges,  who  was  a  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  minister,  but  is  now  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
The  second  daughter  married  a  farmer.  All  are  religious 
and  members  of  the  Church,  except  the  son,  David  F.,  who 
is  a  well-to-do  farmer. 

"John  Barber,  Jr.,  died  April  22d,  1838,  and  was  buried 
near  Edwardsville,  at  what  is  called  Ebenezer  graveyard.'' 

The  action  of  Presbytery  in  regard  to  his  death  is  found 
elsewhere.  Mr.  Barber  died  before  our  acquaintance  in  the 
State,  but  the  universal  verdict  of  the  old  citizens  living  who 
knew  him  is,  that  he  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  talents 
and  usefulness,  and  the  entire  people  mourned  his  death. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  205 

REV.    ISAAC    HILL. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Woods  says  : 

"Rev.  Isaac  Hill  wa"s  born  the  22cl  day  of  December, 
1784,  and  professed  religion  when  he  was  thirty-six  years  of 
age  in  the  State  of  Indiana,  under  the  ministration  of  the  first 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  ministers  who  crossed  the  Ohio 
river,  and  immediately  joined  the  Church.  He  had  a  great 
desire  to  live  thirty-six  years  more,  that  he  might  spend  as 
much  time  in  the  service  of  God  as  he  had  spent  in  wander- 
ing away  from  him.  He  very  soon  began  to  be  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  public  duties,  and  accordingly  began  to 
exhort  the  people  to  seek  salvation  in  Christ.  He  had  to 
travel  a  long  distance  to  meet  the  Kentucky  Presbytery  to 
become  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  It  was  indeed  with 
great  difficulty  and  through  some  dangers  that  he  made  his 
way  from  Vigo  county,  Indiana,  across  the  Ohio  river  when 
the  waters  were  very  high,  to  where  the  Presbytery  convened. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  Indiana  Presbytery. 

"He  made  a  visit  to  the  State  of  Illinois  in  September, 
1826,  and  attended  the  first  camp-meeting  held  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State.  He  and  Rev.  John  Knight,  who  also  was 
a  licentiate,  were  the  only  ministers  present.  It  was  then 
and  there  that  a  revival  of  religion  commenced  which  diffused 
its  blessings  far  and  wide.  Bro.  Hill  from  that  time  visited 
that  congregation  statedly  until  he  removed  within  its  bounds 
in  the  Spring  of  1828.  None  of  our  pioneer  ministers  were 
more  earnest  or  zealous  in  the  Master's  work.  He  had  a 
very  strong  and  powerful  voice,  both  in  preaching  and  sing- 
ing, and  was  eminently  suited  to  camp-meeting  work. 

"He  met  Vandalia  Presbytery  at  Mount  Zion,  Illinois,  in 
June,  1833,  at  which  time  (June  15)  he  was  ordained  to  the 
whole  work  of  the  ministry.  Rev.  Joel  Knight  preached  the 
ordination  sermon,  Rev.  John  Barber,  Jr.,  presided,  and 
Rev.  John  Barber,  Sen.,  gave  the  charge. 

"Bro.    Hill   repeatedly   traversed    almost    all    the   ground 


2O6  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

which  now  comprises  the  Presbyteries  of  Foster  and  Hill, 
and  parts  of  Vandalia  and  Decatur  Presbyteries.  He  laid 
many  foundations  on  which  others  have  built,  as  his  field  of 
labor  was  so  large.  There  was  no  resident  minister  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  nearer  than  sixty  miles  in 
this  State  for  at  least  eight  years  after  he  began  to  preach 
here;  and  the  first  within  that  bound  was  Rev.  James  Ash- 
more,  who  was  converted  and  brought  into  the  ministry  in 
old  Big  Creek  congregation  where  Bro.  Hill  resided  and 
labored  so  faithfully  until  the  weight  of  years  and  constant 
labor  prostrated  his  manly  form.  It  is  not  at  all  likely  that 
so  many  ministers  of  the  gospel  have  come  out  of  any  other 
congregation  in  the  State  as  from  the  aforesaid  congregation  ; 
and  for  his  work's  sake  we  think  his  memory  is  entitled  to 
more  consideration  than  any  other  minister  whose  field  of 
labor  has  been  within  that  of  his.  Emphatically  he  labored 
'not  for  that  meat  which  perisheth,'  for  the  whole  amount 
which  he  received  during  the  time  of  his  ministry  would 
make  but  little  if  any  more  than  a  comfortable  salary  for  one 
year  at  the  present  time.  Large  numbers  of  souls  have  been 
brought  to  the  Savior  by  the  work  he  has  wrought  for  the 
gracious  Master  in  his  vineyard.  Although  his  labors  are 
ended,  and  nearly  three  decades  have  passed  over  the  little 
mound  which  now  marks  the  place  where  the  toil-worn  sol- 
dier's manly  form  now  rests,  he  'yet  speaketh.'  One  of  his 
eight  sons,  Rev.  R.  C.  Hill,  is  now  becoming  old  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  Hill  Presbytery  was  named  in  honor 
to  his  memory,  and  we  trust  it  will  become  his  most  bright 
and  enduring  monument." 

We  regret  that  the  above  short  letter  from  Bro.  Woods  is  all 
we  have  been  able  to  gather  concerning  this  very  useful  pioneer 
minister,  except  that  he  was  married  to  Margaret  Cunningham 
April  16,  1807,  and  that  he  died  February  n,  1853.  We 
have  been  able  to  learn  nothing  of  his  family,  save  that  Rev. 
R.  C.  Hill,  of  Loxa,  111.,  is  a  worthy  son  of  the  deceased. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  2O7 

REV.    JOHN    M.    CAMERON. 

I  had  almost  despaired  of  obtaining  any  reliable  account 
of  this  old  father  in  Israel,  and  especially  of  the  latter  part 
of  his  life,  when  the  following  notice  from  the  pen  of  B.  B. 
Berry  appeared  in  a  recent  number  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian,  which  we  take  great  pleasure  in  transferring  to  our 
pages : 

"Rev.  John  Miller  Cameron  was  born  in  Elbert  county, 
Georgia,  on  the  twelfth  day  of  August,  1791,  and  died 
at  his  residence  after  a  painful  and  distressing  affliction 
of  two  months'  duration,  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1878,  being  eighty-six  years,  six  months  and  nine 
days  old. 

"The  deceased  while  a  youth  came  with  his  father  and 
family  to  Kentucky  in  the  year  1804,  and  settled  near  the 
mouth  of  Green  river,  in  Henderson  county,  at  which  place 
he  was  married  to  Mary  Orendorff  in  the  year  1811.  From 
this  place  he  removed  to  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  what  is  now  White  county,  in  the  year  1813  ;  removed 
from  there  to  Belleville  in  St.  Clair  county  in  the  year  1816; 
and  from  there  to  Sangamon  county  in  the  year  1818.  This 
move  was  made  about  the  time  that  Illinois  was  admitted  into 
the  Union.  He  stopped  for  a  time  near  Springfield,  after 
which  he  settled  on  Rock  Creek  in  the  same  county,  at  which 
place  the  writer  became  intimately  acquainted  with  him. 
He  was  at  that  time  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  in  the 
bounds  of  Sangamon  Presbytery,  and  about  the  year  1827 
was  licensed  to  preach.  He  devoted  the  principal  part  of  his 
time  to  the  ministry  until  1832,  when  he  removed  to  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  was  instrumental  in  building  up 
several  church  organizations.  He  remained  there  until 
the  year  1836,  when  he  removed  to  the  territory  of  Iowa, 
and  settled  for  a  time  in  Jefferson  County,  where  he  was  an 
instrument  in  building  up  several  more  church  organizations. 


2O8  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

"Shortly  after  the  admission  of  the  State  into  the  Union 
he  again  removed  to  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  and  at  that  place  built 
up  an  organization  and  erected  the  first  house  of  worship  in 
the  place.  He  devoted  a  portion  of  his  time  in  visiting  and 
preaching  in  the  counties  of  Mahaska,  Wapelo,  Van  Buren, 
Jefferson,  Keokuk,  Henry,  Jasper,  and  others  ;  was  always 
punctual  at  the  judicatures  of  the  Church,  and  seldom  failed 
to  be  at  his  own  appointments. 

"In  the  Spring  of  1849  ^e  started  with  his  family  across 
the  plains,  a  distance  of  two  thousand  miles,  to  California. 
He  arrived  at  a  place  now  known  as  Fremont  about  the  first 
of  October  of  the  same  year ;  remained  there  but  a  short 
time  ;  then  went  to  Sacramento,  where  he  remained  during 
the  Winter.  In  the  Summer  of  1850  he  removed  to  Martinez, 
preaching  occasionally  until  the  Fall  of  1851,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Sonoma  county,  near  the  present  town  of 
Sebastopol,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  on  which  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  He  was  set  apart  to  the  whole  work  of  the 
ministry  by  the  California  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  in  1854.  After  this  his  time  was  mostly 
spent  in  visiting  destitute  places,  preaching  and  organizing 
churches,  and,  after  the  organization,  in  visiting  and  supply- 
ing said  churches  until  prevented  by  affliction  and  extreme 
old  age.  His  wife  died  after  a  short  illness  at  her  home  in 
Sonoma  county,  on  the  25th  day  of  March,  1876,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Since  this  time  the  de- 
ceased seemed  to  be  broken  down  in  spirits,  disconsolate, 
lonely,  and  dejected. 

"Father  Cameron  was  eminently  a  pioneer  at  the  time  of 
his  settlement  in  Illinois  in  1813,  in  Iowa  in  1837,  and  in 
California  in  1849.  These  States  respectively  had  not  been 
admitted  into  the  Union.  His  life  has  been  spent  upon  the 
frontier ;  and  his  occupation  practically  was  to  clear  the  way 
for  those  who  would  follow.  He  was  a  devoted  husband,  a 
kind  and  affectionate  father,  and  a  generous  neighbor.  He 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  209 

died  as  he  had  lived,  faithful  to  every  obligation.  He  was 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him  ;  and  a  great  many  friends 
and  relatives  mourn  their  loss." 

REV.    THOMAS    CAMPBELL. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  York  District,  South 
Carolina,  October  31,  1786.  While  young  he  immigrated  to 
Caldwell  county,  Kentucky.  His  parents  were  strict  Pres- 
byterians. He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Robison 
March  22,  1810.  He  was  first  aroused  to  a  sense  of  his  lost 
condition  under  the  preaching  of  Revs.  Finis  Ewing  and 
William  Barnett  about  the  year  1815.  He  sought  and  found 
peace  with  God  at  his  own  home.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Eliza 
J.  Hughes,  of  Nilwood,  Illinois,  from  whom  we  have  re- 
ceived much  that  is  herein  written,  says  she  has  heard  her 
father  express  himself  about  this  event  often,  and  he  said  : 
"It  seemed  as  if  all  nature  was  changed  to  loveliness  and 
praise :  even  the  trees  looked  more  beautiful  than  ever 
before."  He  soon  felt  it  his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel ;  and 
although  he  was  married,  and  had  a  rising  family,  he  placed 
himself  under  the  care  of  the  Anderson  Presbytery,  and  was 
licensed  by  that  Presbytery  with  Woods  M.  Hamilton  and 
Gilbert  Dodds. 

He  moved  to  Illinois  in  1820  and  settled' temporarily  in 
Pope  county,  having  rented  out  his  farm  in  Kentucky.  He 
remained  there  only  a  year  or  two,  and  went  back  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  stayed  but  a  short  time.  Then  he  sold  out 
and  removed  in  1823  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  home  was  on  what  was 
called  "Little  Spring  Creek."  He  bought  an  improvement 
and  entered  the  land  at  the  first  land  sales  ever  opqned  in 
Springfield. 

We  find  he  presented  a  letter  of  dismission  and  recom- 
mendation from  Anderson  Presbytery  to  Illinois  Presbytery 
as  a  licentiate  October  5,  1824,  and  was  received.  This 


2IO  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

session  of  Presbytery  was  held  at  old  Hope  well  church,  in 
White  county.  He  was  ordained  lo  the  whole  work  of  the 
ministry  at  Bear  Creek  church,  Montgomery  county,  in 
April,  1825.  Rev.  D.  W.  McLin  preached  the  ordination 
sermon,  presiding  and  giving  the  charge  also. 

Like  most  of  the  ministers  of  his  day,  his  opportunities 
were  limited  to  procure  an  education,  and,  the  country  being 
new,  he  had  to  make  his  own  living  on  his  farm.  But  he 
was  very  industrious  and  studious,  and  passed  a  creditable 
examination  on  the  English  sciences  required  by  the  Book  of 
Discipline.  In  looking  over  the  records  of  his  Presbytery 
we  find  him  usually  present  at  her  meetings,  and  always  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  her  proceedings.  He  studied  the 
Scriptures.  They  were  emphatically  the  source  from  whence 
he  derived  most  of  his  information.  He  was  provided,  how- 
ever, with  the  commentaries  both  of  Clark  and  Henry.  He 
preached  without  manuscript :  did  not  use  even  notes,  and 
always  held  up  Jesus  and  his  cross  in  every  sermon.  He 
was  greatly  useful,  and  much  beloved  by  those  who  knew 
him.  He  traveled  far  and  near  across  the  wild  prairies  to 
carry  the  news  of  salvation  to  the  people,  who  always  heard 
him  gladly.  His  own  house  in  Sangamon  county  was  a 
preaching  place  and  a  place  for  Sunday-school.  A  Sunday- 
school  was  organized  in  his  house,  with  David  S.  Taylor  as 
superintendent.  He  and  his  wife  first  united  with  a  little 
society  four  miles  from  his  home  at  the  house  of  Abraham 
Duff,  where  Mr.  Campbell  preached  for  several  years.  He 
aided  in  building  up  a  number  of  congregations  in  that  and 
adjoining  counties.  Of  course,  when  Sangamon  Presbytery 
was  stricken  off  from  Illinois  Presbytery  he  was  included  in 
the  membership  of  Sangamon. 

Mr.  Campbell  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children,  five  of 
whom  are  gone  to  their  final  home.  He  was  very  strict  in 
the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  ;  was  a  strong  temperance 
man — joined  the  "American  Temperance  Society"  long  be- 


BIOGRAPHICAL,.  211 

fore  the  " Washingtonians"  or  any  other  temperance  society 
was  known.  Says  our  informant:  "He  believed  in  the  life 
and  power  of  religion,  preached  repentance  to  sinners  and 
perseverance  to  Christians,  preached  in  the  power  and  dem- 
onstration of  the  Spirit,  and  usually  got  hold  of  the  feelings 
of  the  people."  The  same  party  relates  this  incident: 
"Once,  when  he  was  preaching  at  a  camp-meeting  at  Rock 
Creek,  while  speaking  of  the  sinner's  lost  condition,  he  re- 
lated a  circumstance  that  happened  when  he  was  living  in 
Pope  county  of  a  little  girl  who  was  lost  and  never  found. 
A  stranger  in  the  audience  was  so  wrought  upon  that  he 
cried  out  with  alarm  at  the  top  of  his  voice." 

His  death  was  very  sudden  and  unexpected.  It  occurred 
oq  the  nth  of  May,  1850.  His  disease  was  something  like 
cholera,  although  there  was  not  thought  to  be  any  in  the 
country  that  year.  He  felt  a  little  unwell  in  the  morning, 
but  ate  his  breakfast  as  usual  and  went  out  in  the  field  to 
plant  corn.  His  son  saw  him  fall  on  his  face.  He  was 
carried  or  hauled  to  the  house,  a  doctor  sent  for,  but  before 
his  arrival  he  was  dying,  and  soon  after  expired.  There 
was  no  minister  near  enough  to  attend  the  funeral,  but  a 
large  concourse  of  citizens  and  neighbors  followed  him  to 
the  grave.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of 
Harris  Presbytery,  (which  only  existed  a  year  or  two,  be- 
ing a  part  of  Sangamon  Presbytery,  it  was  re-attached,) 
which,  at  its  session  in  October  following,  adopted  an  appro- 
priate minute  respecting  the  death  of  Mr.  Campbell.  He 
was  buried  in  what  is  called  the  "Morgan  grave  yard."  Some 
years  later  his  companion,  a  very  worthy  Christian  woman, 
was  laid  by  his  side.  His  grave  has  a  neat  but  plain  tomb-stone, 
with  his  name,  birth,  death  and  calling,  and  then  this  sentence  : 
"Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints." 
The  death  of  Mr.  Campbell  occurred  before  our  acquaintance 
in  the  State,  but  we  have  found  plentiful  evidences  of  his 
activity  and  great  usefulness  all  over  the  interior  counties. 


212  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

REV.    NICHOLAS    CARPER. 

One  of  the  earliest  ministers  of  Vandalia  Presbytery,  and 
one  greatly  beloved,  was  Rev.  Nicholas  Carper,  a  colored 
preacher.  Of  his  early  life  but  little  is  known  to  the  writer. 
We  find  the  following  reference  to  his  life  and  e^rly  ministrv 
by  Judge  Ewing  in  his  "Historical  Memoirs,"  which,  per- 
haps, gives  the  true  account  of  his  origin  :  "The  session  of 
1836  was  held  at  the  Bethel  church  in  Boon  countv.  Among 
the  members  of  this  Synod  appears  the  name  of  Rev.  Nich- 
olas Caoper,"  (evidenly  a  misprint  for  Carper,)  "a  colored 
man  of  rare  endowments  as  a  public  speaker.  He  was  a 
bright  mulatto,  having  a  very  fine  face,  and  being  of  large, 
portly  person.  I  have  heard  him  preach  from  the  same  stand 
at  a  camp-meeting  with  Ewing,  Morrow,  Sloan,  and  others 
of  the  old  preachers.  I  noticed  that  he  was  appointed  on  a 
committee  with  S.  C.  Davis  and  John  M.  Foster  to  examine 
the  minutes  of  the  Barnett  Presbyter}-.  He  had  formerly 
been  a  slave,  and  was  the  property  of  William  Jack,  of  Lex- 
ington. He  obtained  his  freedom,  and  became  a  minister  in 
the  St.  Louis  Presbytery — at  least,  he  appeared  from  that 
Presbytery  in  Synod.  I  think  I  never  heard  a  speaker  with 
so  fine  a  voice.  It  was  strong,  yet  smooth,  melodious  and 
musical.  When  raised  to  a  high  key  it  was  like  a  bugle  note 
from  a  silver  trumpet." — Page  19. 

We  find  his  name  at  an  early  day  on  the  roll  of  ministers 
of  Vandalia  Presbytery.  In  the  records  of  the  Spring  session 
of  1839  we  find  Mr.  Carper  joined  by  letter,  and  from  other 
reliable  sources  we  learn  that  he  was  then  living  in  the  Amer- 
ican bottom  opposite  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death.  Some  where  near  the  little  village  of  Brooklyn, 
between  Venice  and  East  St.  Louis,  was  the  place  of  his 
residence.  The  writer  never  met  him,  but  in  St.  Louis 
Presbytery,  and  Vandalia,  also,  the  older  brethren  speak  of 
him  in  the  highest  terms  as  a  man  of  extraordinary  powers 
of  mind  and  ability  as  a  speaker.  Nor  were  his  abilities  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  213 

mind  and  powers  of  speech  more  noteworthy  than  his  humil- 
ity and  devout  piety. 

The  following  is  from  Rev.  James  B.  Braly,  of  Steelville, 
Mo.,  who  knew  Mr.   Carper  well:     "Bro.   Carper's  educa- 
tion was  limited,  but  still  his  language   was  usually  chaste, 
and  frequently  elegant.     He  was  not  a  systematic  preacher. 
When  he  divided  his  subject  he  seldom  paid  any  attention  to 
his  divisions,  sometimes  treating  the  last  division  first.     He 
was  truly  eloquent.     His  gestures  were  natural  and  graceful. 
His  voice  was  shrill   but   very   musical — I    think   the    most 
musical  voice  I  ever  heard.     His  singing  was  full  of  melody. 
He  could  always  secure  the   attention   of  his  audience.     His 
preaching  was  usually  very  effective.     He  brought  his  whole 
soul  into  his   subject,   and  his   applications  were  powerful. 
He  was  truly  a  wonderful  man.     He  did  not  have   a  great 
variety.     Often  he  preached  from  the  same  text,  and  would 
frequently  make  mistakes,   confounding  Bible  names.     But 
his  mistakes  were  not  usually  noticed  by  his  hearers,   they 
being  carried  away  by  his  eloquence.     You  may  think,  my 
brother,  that  I  have  overdrawn  the  picture,  he  being  a  man 
of  color ;  but  if  you  could  have  seen  and  heard  him,  I  think 
you  would  agree  with  me  that  he  was  a  wonderful  man." 
Mr.  Braly  gives  the  following  incident  of  Mr.  Carper :    "He 
preached  occasionally  from   a  text   he   called   the    'Devil's 
text:'  'Ye  shall  not  surely  die.'     At  a  camp-meeting  held 
by  the  Methodists,  I  think  in  St.  Louis  county,  he  was  in- 
vited to  preach.     It  was   not   long   after   he    came    into  our 
bounds.     In  his  preface  he  told  his  hearers  that  there  was  an 
old  preacher  amongst  them  who  had  traveled  and  preached 
very  extensively.     He  went  on  to  describe  him,  and  said  he 
had  done  much   mischief.     There   was   an  old  preacher  by 
the  name  of  Heath  who  lived  in  St.  Louis  and  had  traveled 
very  extensively,  and  while  Carper  was  talking  the  preachers 
all  began  to  whisper  and  wonder  if  it  was  not  Heath.     But 
the  old  man  told  them  after  a  while  that  he  meant  the  Devil." 


214  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  following  letter  from  Rev.  J.  M.  Bone,  for  many 
years  a  minister  in  Vandalia  Presbytery,  will  be  of  additional 
interest.  Mr.  Bone  now  resides  at  Pomona,  Kansas  : 

"I  met  Bro.  Carper  but  a  few  tirr.es.  Though  he  was  a 
member  of  Vandalia  Presbytery,  yet  he  never  attended  any 
of  its  sessions.  He  moved  from  St.  Louis  and  settled  in  the 
American  bottom,  a  few  miles  above  East  St.  Louis,  and 
soon  after  he  settled  there  he  sent  his  letter  and  was  received 
as  a  member  of  Vandalia  Presbytery.  At  that  time  he  was 
preaching  to  a  congregation  of  colored  people  in  St.  Louis, 
either  Congregationalists  or  New  School  Presbyterians,  I 
don't  know  which,  and  continued  to  preach  to  them  some 
time  after  he  settled  in  Illinois.  Congregationalists,  Baptists 
and  Presbyterians  frequently  invited  him  to  assist  them  in 
protracted  meetings.  They  loved  to  have  him.  He  was  a 
good  revivalist. 

"I  met  him  at  a  camp-meeting  at  Beaver  Creek,  in  the  south 
part  of  Bond  county,  Illinois,  and  there  I  learned  from  him 
all  I  know  of  his  history.  He  was  born  a  slave.  His  futher 
was  one-fourth  French.  He  was  married  before  he  pro- 
fessed religion.  He  said  in  a  discourse  at  the  camp-meeting, 
that  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old  he  knew  nothing  but  to 
He  with  his  toes  in  the  ashes  and  run  at  the  call  of  his  master. 
He  had  no  knowledge  of  books  or  their  design.  When  he 
decided  that  it  was  his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  work  of  preparing  for  the  ministry  ;  and  when 
he  was  ordained  he  stood  an  examination  on  all  the  parts  of 
trial  required  by  our  Book.  He  was  licensed  and  ordained 
by  the  Lexington  Presbytery.  He  devoted  all  his  time  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry.  In  the  meantime  he  bought  and 
paid  for  himself,  wife  and  two  daughters.  Two  sons  were 
sold  as  slaves  and  taken  South.  He  never  saw  or  heard 
from  them  after.  He  was  a  large,  portly,  good-looking 
mulatto  man.  He  weighed  about  two  hundred  pounds,  and 
when  I  saw  him  I  suppose  he  was  about  sixty  years  old. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  215 

"Bro.  Carper  was  a  good,  acceptable  preacher.  He  used 
good  language.  His  manner  was  solemn.  He  presented  his 
thoughts  clearly  and  some  times  impressively.  His  preach- 
ing was  mostly  experimental  and  practical.  He  was  powerful 
in  exhortation.  He  knew  his  place  in  the  society  of  white 
people  He  was  modest  and  retiring,  and  never  intruded 
himself  so  as  to  give  offense.  But  in  the  pulpit  he  was  at 
home.  There  he  spoke  his  mind  boldly  and  independently. 
He  reproved  sin  sharply,  and  urged  the  service  of  God  in 
Christ  tenderly  and  in  love.  He  died,  I  think,  in  the  Amer- 
ican bottom,  but  I  know  nothing  of  the  particulars  of  his 
death." 

The  brief  notice  of  his  death  by  Vandalia  Presbytery  may 
be  found  elsewhere. 

REV.  JAMES  M'DOWELL. 

The  following  is  furnished  us  by  his  son,  Joseph  W.  Mc- 
Dowell, now  residing  near  Hopedale,  Illinois,  and  is  copied 
mainly  from  a  sketch  prepared  by  his  (Mackinaw)  Presby- 
tery, and  published  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  April 
17, 1849: 

Mr.  McDowell  departed  this  life  on  October  22d,  1846,  in 
the  forty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  of  pious  parents,  who  removed  to  Robison  count}7, 
Tennessee,  prior  to  the  revival  of  1800.  His  father  was  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  took  his  stand  with 
the  revival  party.  The  subject  of  our  notice  embraced  re- 
ligion on  the  2d  of  August,  1822.  He  was  received  as  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry  by  Logan  Presbytery  in  the  Fall 
of  1823.  He  was  licensed  by  the  same  Presbytery  in  Octo- 
ber of  1825,  and  immediately  started  on  what  was  called  the 
Green  River  circuit.  From  this  to  April,  1830,  his  time  was 
mostly  spent  in  riding  the  circuit  and  preaching.  At  the 
session  of  Presbytery  in  April,  1830,  he  was  ordained. 
From  his  journal  kept  during  this  time  we  find  him  a  labo- 


2l6  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

rious  and  very  successful  minister  of  Christ.  As  a  sample 
of  the  work  done  and  privations  endured  by  our  first  minis- 
ters, we  give  this  from  his  journal,  the  first  six  month's  labor 
after  his  licensure,  from  October,  1825,  to  April,  1826.  He 
says  :  "Since  last  Presbytery  forty-seven  made  profession  of 
religion;  twelve  joined  the  Church.  I  have  received  $9.25 
in  cash,  four  vests,  three  pairs  of  socks,  one  pair  of  panta- 
loons, and  two  cravats.  My  expenses  were  $5.75."  It  will 
be  seen  that  his  pay  in  money  was  just  $3-50.  Again  he 
records:  "From  April  2Oth  to  November  i2th  I  rode  one 
thousand,  seven  hundred  and  thirty-eight  miles  ;  preached 
one  hundred  and  sixty-one  times  ;  fifty-four  professed  relig- 
ion over  and  above  the  number  who  professed  at  camp- 
meetings.  I  received  by  way  of  remuneration  $27.25  ;  my 
expenses,  $3.62."  This  is  a  fair  sample  of  after  years. 

In  September,  1830,  he  was  married,  and  removed  imme- 
diately to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  At  that  time  there  was 
but  one  ordained  minister  in  the  present  bounds  of  Mackinaw 
Presbytery,  and  but  one  organized  church,  and  this  one  em- 
braced an  area  about  fifty  miles  in  diameter.  Mr.  McDowell 
entered  at  once  with  great  zeal  and  faithfulness  into  the 
work  of  preaching  Christ  in  this  vast  and  important  field. 
His  health  failed,  however,  some  years  before  his  death,  so 
that  he  preached  but  seldom  ;  yet  he  continued  greatly  useful 
to  the  Church.  He  was  a  sound  and  safe  counsellor  in  the 
judicatures  of  the  Church,  and  of  great  help  to  candidates 
for  the  ministry.  At  one  time  he  took  a  young  man,  a  Bro. 
Hutchison,  to  his  house,  and  kept  him  under  his  tuition  till 
he  was  able  to  stand  a  creditable  examination  on  all  parts  of 
trial  preparatory  to  ordination.  This  young  man  afterwards 
died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith,  having  preached  with  much 
acceptance  and  success  for  several  years. 

The  preaching  of  Mr.  McDowell  was  about  equally  divided 
between  theology,  experience  and  practice.  He  was  not 
what  the  world  called  a  great  preacher,  but  was  a  man  "full 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  .  217 

of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  He  is  said  to  have  been 
rather  reserved  in  conversation  when  not  well  acquainted, 
but  those  who  knew  him  best  loved  him  most.  His  last  ill- 
ness was  long  and  very  severe,  but  he  bore  it  with  great 
patience  and  fortitude,  and  departed  without  doubt  or  fear  in 
full  assurance  of  eternal  life  through  that  Jesus  he  had  so 
long  and  faithfully  preached.  He  was  a  humble,  unostenta- 
tious man,  having  no  jealous  spirit,  and  always  rejoicing  in 
the  honor  bestowed  upon,  and  the  success  accomplished  by, 
his  ministering  brethren.  He  did  much  to  plant  the  standard 
of  the  cross  and  of  the  Cnmberland  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Mackinaw  Presbytery.  Many  are  the  reminiscences  now  all 
over  that  country  connected  with  his  name  and  labors. 


